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SCENES

> INDIAN COUNTRY.

BY THE AUTHOR OP "SCENES IN CHU8AN," "LEABN TO SAT KO," AND
*' HOW TO DIE HAPPT."

PHILADELPHIA :
PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OF PUBLICATION,

NO. 821 CUESTNUT STREET.

/^sy

\

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1859, by ^

JAMES DUNLAP, Tbeas.,
in the Clerk's Oflace of the District Court for the Eastern District
of Pennsylyania.

STEllEOTTPED BT

JESPER HARDING & SON,

INQUmER BUILDING, SOUTH THIRD STKEET, PHILADELPHIA.

€<0)HT]lS?TSo

PAGE

The Creek Indians,

. • •

. 7

Yan Biiren,

• •

13

Forest Kangers in the Town,

. 15

The up river Experience,

17

•Near sinking,

• . .

. 19

"Wooding,

21

Fellow Passengers,

. • *

. 22

The Lieutenant,

25

The Surgeon,

.

. 26

The White Indian,

28

Red men,

, • ,

. 30

The Piece that was lost.

31

What Boarding-schools have done,

. 33

Fort Coffee, .

.

34

Fort Gibson,

.

. 36

The Verdigris Landing,

,

37

Tallahassa Mission,

.

. 39

Kowetah Mission,

, .

41

(3)

CONTENTS.

Origin of the Kowetah Mission

The African Interpreter,

Uncle Frank,

The School, .

The Farmer Missionary,

Female Department,

How they work.

Their Kecreations,

Scene in the Dining-room,

Help those Women,

The Cause which was dearest,

Portrait of a Missionary,

The Teacher,

What is the Cause of this Difference,

The Contrast,

One that had not been a Pupil,

Preaching,

Evening Preaching at Cabins,

Night Meeting among the NegroeS;

Aunt Chloe,

The Whiskey Village,

The Challenge,

Drunken Indians,

Travellers disturbed, .

Itinerating,

The Vision,

Another Vision, .

Oddly constructed Vehicles,

CONTENTS.

^5

Journal contiuued, .

State of AVidowhood, .

Soaking the Seed,

Foot-prints iu the Rock,

Another Day's Work,

Tulsey Town,

A Sick Woman, .

"This be Indian's Hunting Ground

The Commons,

The poor lone Widow, »

Discussion with a Mekko,

Choosing the Broad Road,

Returning home, ,

The Assault, .

** Where other Indians go,"

Different Degrees of Civilization.

The Gentleman,

One of a Class Opposed to Civilization,

The Blowers, ....

Different modes of Burial,

Diffusive Influence of Religion and Knowledge,

Mingled Races,

Alarm in Prospect of Death,

Sofky, ....

White Wife, ....

Drunkards of Ephraim,

Prohibitory Laws,

Smugglers, ....

6 CONTENTS,

PAGE

Morning after a Debauch, .

. 213

The way of Transgressors Hard, ^

215

Extracts from Letters,

. 217

Big Meetings,

218

Unlettered Preachers,

• 219

Examination Day, . ,

223

The Cold Plague,

. 225

Economical Lodgings,

229

Change of Weather,

. 230

Reckless Riding,

232

Indian Doctors,

. 234

Prophets, . , ,

238

The Busk, ....

. 241

Traditions,

248

Marriage and Courtship, .

. 250

Some Incidents of a Day's Ride,

252

The Gleaner,

. 257

A Funeral,

259

Eloquence of Silence,

. 262

A Visit to the Cherokees,

. 264

A Cherokee Preacher,

. 269

Blood Revenge,

274

Testimony of a Drover,

. 275

Is it a Paying Business ?

279

SCENES
IN THE INDIAN COUNTRY,

THE CREEK INDIANS.

We propose to give some account of the
things seen — of the facts learned, and the
labours engaged in — of about a year spent
amongst the Creek Indians, who are lo-
cated along the Arkansas river, west of the
State of Arkansas. This tribe was removed
to their present country, from Georgia,
within the memory of those who are now
not far past the meridian of life. They were
very reluctant to remove ; sorry to leave
their old fields and orchards, their homes
and hunting grounds, their council houses,

and the graves of their kinsmen and their

(7)

8 SCENES IN THE

braves. To this day, they talk much of the
happy country from which they were driven^
as they express it : they discourse about its
springs, and brooks, and rivers ; its rich
soil, and abundant timber; its hills and val-
leys, and genial climate ; and with it they
are wont to contrast, depreciatingly, (like
any homesick person,) the " woodless and
waterless " country in which they are now
settled : nothing is equal to what they had
in Georgia ; the summers here are hotter,
the winters are colder, the rain is wetter,
the crops lighter, the game scarcer, and their
people are dying off faster than ever was
known in the "old nation."

But; however unfavourably it may, in
their eyes^ compare with the country from
which they came, they now have a goodly
land, if they improve, and are disposed to
enjoy it. They have prairie and woodland ;
the " openings " with their grassy carpet
and majestic trees to shade the grazing herds,
and a fitting place they are, also, for the
pensive Indian to roam in solitude and

INDIAN COUNTRY. ft

silence. They have the "deep tangled wild
wood," where the earth never feels the en-
livening influence of the sunshine, so dense
are the tree tops with their trailing vines:
they have upland and lowland, rivers and
smaller streams; so many, that every family
of the tribe might, if so disposed, fix its
habitation on, or near a stream of living
water. The face of the country is undulat-
ing, with here and there a ridge thrown up,
and occasionally an isolated hill.

When they first came to the west, they
settled on lands belonging to the Cherokees.
From fear of the wild Indians of the western
plains, of whom they had heard frightful
tales, they kept, for a time, close to their
Cherokee neighbours. Then they went over
upon tlieir own lands, but still continued
huddled together in the north eastern cor-
ner of their own territory, and as near as
possible to Fort Gibson, which is on the
Neosho, not far from its confluence with the
Arkansas and Yerdigris rivers. The land
in that vicinity was nearly all occupied with

10 SCENES IN THE

their cornfields ; but now, scarce a cabin re-
mains tbere ; young trees are covering
the ground ; the place bears the name of
Tallahassee, or old fields, and the tribe has
scattered about over their wide territory : some
north along the Yerdigris, some along the Ar-
kansas, some south and away to the south-
west, On the different branches of the Cana-
dian river, and some far out on the western
borders, where the buffaloes still range, and
where some enterprising Creeks have estab-
lished stores, and drive a profitable trade
with the wild tribes.

Such as wish to farm, make a clearing in
the heavy timber, supposing that the best
land is likely to be where the timber grew ;
thus they are protected from the winter's
winds, by that portion of the forest which
still surrounds their field. Some erect
their cabins on the borders of the groves,
and make a farm partly on the prairie, and
partly in the clearing.

It is not an uncommon occurrence to tear
down the cabin, and remove it and the fences

INDIAN COUNTRY. 11

to another place, and make new improve-
ments ; some because their old fields have
become worn out, or too thickly seeded with
weeds ; others, not to secure greater agricul-
tural advantages, but because fire wood is
becoming scarce in their immediate vicinity ;
for, rather than go out and cut wood and
"haul" it to the door, they prefer to move
the house into the midst of standing trees,
where they can fell and burn them at their
lazy pleasure. Some change their location
in order to get by the side of a better spring,
or to find a better range for their cattle.

Many of the Creeks are tolerably good
farmers, with well fenced and well tended
fields, good horses, large herds of fine cattle,
and many hogs. The hogs roam in the
woods feeding on roots and nuts, and in the
winter are fed sparingly on corn. The cat-
tle fare well during the long summer, on the
luxuriant grass of the prairies, and such as
have provident owners, get a little hay in
the winter ; otherwise they must shift for
themselves, picking the sour grass of the

12 SCENES IN THE

lowlands, and browsing in the woods and
cane brakes.

Now and then we see a small flock of
coarse-wooled sheep ; but it is difficult to
raise them, because of the prairie wolves
which are numerous and troublesome.

A majority of the Indians are, as yet, but
indifferent farmers, and a large class seem
to be desirous merely to live, and to live
with as little trouble as possible. You will
perceive who these are if you travel much
in the country ; their fields are small, and
smaller this year than they were the year
before ; for instead of making new rails to
replace those that were broken or burned^
because there was nothing more convenient
to boil the dinner, they diminish the size of
the lot. The ploughing was done too late,
and the planting was not in season; the
scattering stalks of corn are sickly, and
yielding the ground to weeds that thrive
without care. Such men have but little
stock ; but if possible, they will keep one
pony, for there are many gatherings for

INDIAN COUNTRY. 13

amusement, feasts and games, at wide dis-
tances apart over the country, which are
most punctually attended by those who most
dislike labour. It is not certain, however,
that every man that rides away from home,
will ride back again ; for the labour-hating
are likely to be the ivhiskey -loving people,
and the gamblers too ; and that one pony
may be gambled away or pledged for li-
quor.

VAN BUREN,

Our first introduction to the Indian Terri-
tory, we may say, began at Van Buren, a
town in Arkansas, on the river of the same
name, and at the point where it enters the
State from the west. We arrived Saturday
evening, and found the place fall of people,
with much noise and excitement. Here
was the residence of the Superintendent of
Indian affairs for all this portion of the In-
dian Territory, and here the courts are held,
and all difficulties which could not be set-
tled at the agencies in the several tribes,

2

14 SCENES IN THE

and crimes of a grave character, were re-
ferred to the Superintendent ; here, too, was
the jail, in which prisoners were lodged. It
being the time of court, many Indians were
lodging in the town, or encamped around
in its vicinity ; some as principals, others as
witnesses in the various trials.

We noticed that some who had been fel-
low passengers with us on the boat, and
who were returning to their homes or places
of trade in the Indian country, showed
symptoms of anxiety, as they learned what
was going on in town.

We asked the cause of their alarm, and
they answered, " We'll have rows here, sir;
so many Indians together ; for if there is any
whiskey within reach, they'll be sure to
scent it out, and if they find it, they'll not
be long in getting drunk, you may depend ;
and when they're drunk, they'll fight and
kill: that's so." But we enjoyed a quiet
Sabbath, worshipping with God's people.

INDIAN COUNTRY. 15

FOREST RANGERS IN THE TOWN.

Daring the forenoon of Monday we were
looking about, and learning what we could
of the Indian character and habits. Some
were racing their ponies through the streets
for the mere excitement of the thing. Here
you might see half a dozen of swarthy faced
young men, with the long black hair float-
ing over their broad shoulders, issue from a
grocery, unhitch their apparently sleeping
nags^ spring upon their backs, and with a
wild screech fly up the road whooping and
yelling till their noise dies away in the dis-
tance. We have forgotten them and are oc-
cupied with other scenes, when suddenly in
an opposite direction we hear the same
frightful screeching and clattering of hoofs,
then we see the foaming horses plunging
furiously towards us, and on even to the
hitching rail, where they halt in full career,
and the riders slide down their sides, turn
the bridle rein over the pony's head, hang
it on the hitching peg, and lean themselves

16 SCENES m THE

against a post or the side of the house, and,
with eyes dropped upon the ground and one
leg twisted around the other, they at once
appear as listless and unconcerned as if they
were alone by their own cabin in the woods.

We go about among the shops. Here is a
spruce young fellow purchasing a hunting
shirt of gay coloured calico with red or yel-
low fringe, and a beaded sash with long tas-
sels: there an ambitious lad getting brass
ornaments and flaming streamers for his bri-
dle ; others, too poor to buy, yet examining
the gaudy horse caparisons which are hung
about in tempting style. In another shop
scores of men are laying in supplies of pow-
der, and lead, and percussion caps ; others
are examining and trying the knives, rifles,
and revolvers. Indian women are chatter-
ing over the shawls, and cotton handkerchiefsj
and gaudy calicoes ; and buying wooden
pails, tin cups, and coffee pots.

Yonder is a gang of men and boys pitch-
ing quoits ; and there another arranging far
a foot race or ball play.

INDIAN COUNTRY. 17

THE UP RIVER EXPERIENCE.

About noon we go aboard the very little
steamboat that is to convey us still on up the
Arkansaw " as far as she can go ;" which, if
the river does not fall immediately, will be
up to the Old Creek Agency ; and that is
where we would like to be landed, for it
is near the Tallahassa Mission. The officers,
though young men, are nevertheless " old
hands" in Western waters ; and before you
get to your journey's end, if skilful in ques-
tioning, you will have learned many inter-
esting and some thrilling as well as some
prosy facts relative to steamboating in these
fitful rivers. They will tell you how in low
water all hands are sometimes compelled to
jump into the stream to work the vessel
over a sand bar, and may be they will have
to " tote" the lading all ashore, and after
they have passed the shoal to " tote" it back
again.

When we came down the river, we had a

little experience in low water navigation.
2*

18 SCENES IN THE

la one place we saw a fine large steamboat
away out on a sand plain, and many feet
above the channel we were running in. She
had, it appeared, been running in high water
and thought to cut off a long bend by shooting
across the bar ; but the river was falling too
fast, and she found herself in a place where
she neither could get back or forward ; and
there high and dry she lay for months wait-
ing another rise of the river. " The farthest
way round would have been the shortest way
home" for her that time.

Of high water boating we had some exam-
ples on our way up. Soon after leaving
Napoleon we met a flood, which the officers
declared was four feet perpendicular as we
met it. Certain it is, that from a perfectly
smooth surface, we passed at once into a tur-
bulent stream, covered all over with drift
wood, as though all the old " rack heaps" in
the river had suddenly broken loose. Two men
were stationed at the bow with poles and
hooks to look out for the biggest logs, and, if
possible, to turn them to one side. We ride

INDIAN COUNTRY. ' 19

over logs and trees which thump and jostle
us about; now a small tree is caught in the
wheel, nor does it let go without leaving its
mark. Some of the passengers say, " Cap-
tain, is this quite safe, do you reckon V^'
"Oh," he answers, "this is the United
States mail boat, don't you kaow ? She's
bound to go through, sir." By and by the
carpenter reports a hole in the bottom, and
we turn in towards the shore and repair.
In the middle of the night again, while near-
ly all the passengers are asleep in their berths,
we hear the engine bells ringing ominously,
and soon we are tied up to some trees on the
bank, and the steam is let off. We go out
to learn what's the trouble. " Oh, nothing
special," says the mate, " only a little bit of
a hole 'bout as big 's yer head ; 't will be
plugged in less 'n half an hour."

NEAR SINKING.

In our little boat from Van Buren to Fort
Gibson we still had high water. At Fort
Smith, where we lay part of a day taking in

20 SCENES IN THE

cargo, we narrowly escaped a watery grave.
Just at night they left the wharf to steam
around to another landing which was at the
mouth of a creek, and that creek too was
high, and its waters were rushing down so
impetuously that our craft could not make
head against it, but the current caught and
whirled her bow around against some sharp
projectinjg rocks on the shore with startling
force. The carpenter jerked off the hatch-
way and jumped into the hold ; but he jump-
ed out as quick as he jumped in ; and in an-
swer to the quick inquiry from the pilot
house, "How is it?" he shouted back in an
agitated manner, " She's taking water as fast
as ever she can." The youthful captain, who
was himself at the wheel, did not lose his
presence of mind ; but backed down a little,
then with all the steam that could be let on,
he rushed her hard into a cane brake ; and
the canes bending under and at the sides
of the boat, helped to buoy her up, and mean-
time others were busy cramming bedding
into the holes. We lay there nearly all the

INDIAN COUNTRY. 21

night till the damage was repaired, and
" better than new," as they insisted. Had
we gone down where we struck, there would
nothing have been seen, even of the tops of
our smoke pipes ; so they told us. Most of
the passengers would have been glad to have
been ashore. Some went out on the hurricane
deck, and shouted long and loud to anybody
on the land ; screeched with that Cherokee
screech. One or two came lazily down to
the water's edge and asked, " What's the
matter?" and when they were told, they
coolly replied, " Oh, is that all ?" and as laz-
ily they walked away.

WOODING.

Wooding along those rivers far up the
country is not the systematic and speedy
business that it is where there are woodyards,
and men who have ambition to chop and
haul the wood to the river, and enterprise
to be on the look out for opportunity to sell
it. When our stock was getting low, all
hands were put on the look out for a con-

22 SCENES IN THE

venient place to land, and where there was
a prospect of gathering wood. Dry limbs
were gathered, small trees were cut, and not
a few rails from the fences near the river
would be tossed aboard — "Pitch them in,"
thej would say, " pitch them in ; don't you
see the bank is caving? They '11 be gone any
how pretty soon, and we might as well save
them — pitch them in."

FELLOW PASSENGERS.

Perhaps we are taking our readers on too
fast: you may have a curiosity to look
around amongst our passengers and see who
they are. When we embarked at Yan Buren
we found quite a company on board already ;
a few white men, but many Indians, men
and women ; and the Indians were the lords
and ladies. The first day, at the table, a fat
Indian woman fixed herself in the captain's
seat ; nor was she asked to vacate it. All
helped themselves to what they liked.

The women wore very small shawls, and
gowns which were not very flowing ; with

INDIAN COUNTRY. 23

handkerchiefs tied about the head instead
of bonnets.

At Fort Smith, more people came aboard;
of whom some were white traders, some
were Indians, who were merchants on a
small scale, and had come down to lay in a
stock of goods ; also a few people belonging
to the United States service.

Amongst the Indians, there were a few
petty chiefs, two of whom were very fat ;
and one, a very tall, and very dark man,
who bore himself rather haughtily, was
pointed out to us as the third chief of the Creek
Nation, and brother to the principal chief,
and a merchant, and Baptist preacher be-
sides.

One morning, one of the corpulent chiefs
caused his companions much merriment, by
his ineffectual efforts to contrive a way to
descend safely from the upper berth, and at
length, whether as a last resort, or by acci-
dent, rolling over broadside, down upon the
deck. This called forth floods of jokes,

24: SCENES IN THE

which we did not understand, with peals of
laughter long and loud.

From Little Rock, we had as fellow pas-
senger, a nephew of the Cherokee chief whom
I had known once in Princeton, IST. J., where
he was then attending school. Now he
seemed to be quite a business man, having
his residence at Tallequa, the capital of the
Cherokee nation.

He had hitherto been dressed in a genteel
suit of broadcloth, which he was wearing
home from Philadelphia, whither he had
been for the purchase of goods ; and he had
been quite social and communicative all the
way up the river, until we met, on board this
last steamer, amongst other Indians. He
had stowed the broadcloth away in his
trunk, and appeared in his hunting shirt,
and bead sash with long tassels, no vest, gay
slippers, straw hat with red ribbon. He
would not enter into any protracted conver-
sation with the white men, and seemed to be
extremely anxious all the time, lest possibly
he might become implicated in some of the

INDIAN COUNTRY. 25

Indians' little quarrels. We regretted this,
for he was an educated and intelli2:ent man,
and we had already drawn much valuable
information from him.

At Fort Smith we took on board a sur-
geon, a lieutenant, and a sergeant. The lat-
ter had in charge two soldiers, who had de-
serted from Fort Gibson. During the night
he managed to let them go again into the
woods somewhere, when the boat landed —
*i»he did it on purpose" — the surgeon said.

THE LIEUTENANT.

lie was a wild, rollicking blade; he told
tales about the many marvellous things he
had seen or done, during the service in
Mexico. What was truth, and what was
fiction, it was hard to determine, and there-
fore the safest plan was to reject it all. From
the companions gathered around him, and
from the many bad words he used, it was man-
ifest that he was not fit company for decent
people. We observed that the surgeon had
Dothing whatever to do with him. But he

26 SCENES IN THE

had a horse that might be admired; a noble,
and well trained animal. When we were
approaching the place where he purposed to
take the land again, the saddle, bridle, hol-
sters, etc., were brought out and adjusted;
the boat ran in to the shore, and prepara-
tions were making to launch the planks in
order to lead the horse off; but, *'No," says
the lieutenant, and touching his fingers to
the bridle rein, and a toe to the stirrup, he
vaulted into the saddle, and touching his
heel to the flanks of his steed, off from the
deck he leaped, clambered up the steep bank,
then galloped away over the greensward, and
was soon out of sight in the woods.

THE SURGEON.

He was a polished gentleman, and a
Christian, we trust. His speech was pure
and elegant, unmixed with those vulgarisms
which are so easily acquired in the army,
and by mingling with all kinds of people.
He was now past the meridian of life, and
had been in the army constantly, since he had

INDIAN COUNTKY. 27

left the schools, yet he retained all the polish
of manners, and kept up his reading with as
much zest as if he had never left his city
home. Through Florida, Texas, Mexico,
and the Indian country, he had accompanied
the troops, and had experienced the vicissi-
tudes and privations of war ; but it had not
made him coarse or negligent. His own
sound, religious principles, the presence of
a wife and daughter, who were his compan-
ions when he was not following the army
into battle ; the presence too, of a well se-
lected library; served to keep him up in a
moral and social atmosphere, which was
healthful and refining, while so many around
him were people of different habits, and dif-
ferent tastes.

He loved much to talk of his Colonel, a
pious man, who was not ashamed of his re-
ligion, and always would have order whether
in the cantonment or the camp ; who sup-
pressed improper indulgences, and enforced
a decent observance of the Sabbath. Many
of the officers, therefore, complained of him

23 SCENES IN THE

as a bigoted old Puritan, that could not

toleral

merits.

tolerate amongst his men innocent amuse

THE WHITE INDIAN.

There was a young white man on the
boat, a citizen of the Cherokee nation ; for
any person may become a citizen of any of
these tribes, by marrying a native woman :
he can then take up as much land as he is
able to cultivate, providing he does not en-
croach upon the prior claim of any other
man ; he may raise cattle, buy and sell, and
enjoy all the privileges of a genuine In-
dian ; but he is required to attend, and con-
tribute to the support of all their national
feasts, and the sports and games connected
with them, however idolatrous or immoral
they may be. If, at any time he should
grow tired of his wife, or of the country,
and wish to remove, he must leave behind
all the property which, as an Indian, he
claimed. This young man of whom we are
speaking, had been well raised ; a tall, hand-

INDIAN COUNTRY. 29

somely formed person, with a sparkling eye,
and finely wrought features. He had re-
ceived some education, and had travelled
some. When not too drunk he could con-
verse pleasantly ; but, poor fellow I he had
abandoned himself to every degrading vice,
and had lent himself, with his education
and fine talents, to the service of the devil,
in leading the poor Indian into sin, and
teaching him forms of wickedness he had
not known before. In gambling and drink-
ing, he spent whatever money came into
his hands ; selling off, one after another, the
cattle and horses which were the inheritance
of his wife, and staking at the gambling
table, the annuities which were to come to
her from the United States government.

He was considerably intoxicated when he
came aboard, though not noisy ; but there
was a " Bar " kept on the boat, and be-
fore long he became more drunk and
more troublesome ; ready to provoke a
quarrel with any one ; every now and then
drawing out a frightful looking sheath-knife,

3*

30 SCENES IN THE

feeling its edge, then returning it to its
place at his back, under the hunting shirt.

At length we arrived at the landing where
we hoped to get rid of him, and to land
some stores which he had purchased down
the river ; but the captain refused to put
them ashore, till he had found security for
damage done to a box of dry goods, which
he had wantonly tossed into the river on
the way up, which was, however, fished up
again, though well saturated with the red
Arkansaw water.

RED MEN.

One evening, as we were nearing the
shore to gather wood, and to put out a few
cases of goods for a small store back from the
river, we had a view of a company of Chero-
kees, with painted faces, feathers in their
hair, bare legs, moccasined feet, and armed
with guns and knives. We were not ex-
pecting to find any of this tribe still appear-
ing so wild and savage ; but we subsequently
learned that a portion of the nation have

INDIAN COUNTRY. 31

always been desperately opposed to schools,
and to the improvements urged by our
government, and by the missionaries ; they
adhere to their old customs, and strive to
train up their children in the same ; care-
fully teaching them all their traditions, and
charging them not to learn or adopt the re-
ligion of the pale faces ; for it is not to the
heaven of the pale faces, but to the happy
hunting ground of the red men, they should
wish to go.

THE PIECE THAT WAS LOST.

AVe had as passenger, a furniture dealer
from Fort Smith. Wherever the boat made
any long stop, he ran ashore to inform the
people of the wares he had for sale, and em-
ployed others to circulate the news further,
and to give notice that the people should be
ready when the boat might return on her
downward trip. Just as the word had been
given this evening to "cast off," and the
hurried strokes of the bell were pealing
through the woods, and the people were run-

82 SCENES IN THE

ning in on the narrow plank, an Indian wo-
man came running, and calling, and throw-
ing out her arms like one in great distress.
We waited to hear her story. She was com-
ing to buy a bureau, but on the way had
dropped a ten dollar gold piece, and she
wanted help to find it. The accommodating
captain ordered the boat made fast again,
and passengers and hands sallied forth with
torches to help the poor woman find her
piece of money, and they found it and re-
turned it to her; whereupon she was ex-
ceedingly rejoiced, and it seemed so much
more valuable than it did before, that the
furniture dealer was unable to close a bar-
gain with her.

Then some of us thought of the woman of
the parable, who lighted her candle and
swept the house, and sought diligently till
she found the piece that was lost, and then
called together her neighbours and friends
to rejoice with her: we thought too of the
joy there is in the presence of the angels
of God over one sinner that repenteth ; and

INDIAN COUNTRY. 33

then we thought of this Indian woman her-
self, and of those heathen red men, and of
the work in which the missionaries to this
people are engaged — work in which the an-
gels would love to labour — not to find pieces
of gold and silver; but to win souls, over
whose salvation the angels may rejoice.

WHAT BOARDING SCHOOLS HAVE DONE.

On the Cherokee side of the river I went
ashore one morning to procure, if possible,
a pitcher of milk ; for that was a luxury not
down on the boat's bill of fare. " Follow up
that path," said a man on the shore, " and it
will bring you to a house where they keep
it." So I followed that winding footpath
about a quarter of a mile till it brought me
in front of a neat cottage of hewn logs, hav-
ing a portico in front, vines running over
the windows, a well cultivated flower and
vegetable garden. Within everything wag
clean and orderly; the lady was apparently
a full blooded Cherokee, but genteel and easy
ia her manners, and speaking the English

84 SCENES IN THE

language prettily. She was an educated
woman, I saw at once ; and without fearing
to be thought impertinent, I inquired where
she had attended school. Her eye lit up
with emotion, and a grateful, pleasurable ex-
pression passed over her face as she quickly
answered, "At the Old Dwight Mission,
sir." I had not time to sit down, but yet
had time enough to observe the appearance
of herself, her house, and her household :
and at my leisure I could contrast this scene
with some others which we had witnessed,
and could muse upon the influence of Chris-
tian Missions, and of the Mission Boarding
ScJiools, especially in civilizing and refining
those who otherwise would still be ignorant,
indolent^ and without the comforts even of
this life.

FOKT COFFEE.

When we came to this place, which is on
the Choctaw side of the river, it had begun
to grow dark one evening. It was then oc-
cupied as the Mission premises, and board-

INDIAN COUNTRY. 35

ing school under the care of the Methodist
church. The buildings were old log houses
on the top of a bold bluff, and the river bends
itself around its foot. The boat was bring-
ing stores for the Mission, and her shrill
whistle brought out the teacher, with twenty
or thirty Indian lads, and they came running
down the hill.

It was a romantic spot, and a scene which
a painter would love to sketch. The cone
shaped hill bearing stately trees on its sides,
those weather beaten block houses on its
summit, Indian boys scattered here and there,
their dusky features revealed by the torch
light, and the river laving its rocky founda-
tion. That fort once grinning with cannon
th'-ough its port holes; that hill once brist-
ling with infantry, now serving a better pur-
pose, and now a far better defence for the
tribe than when armed men were quartered
there ; for now it is fostering an army of
teachers, and men who will be friends of
education and religion. A military station
transformed into a nursery, for the religious

Sd SCENES IN THE

training of youth rescued from heathenism,
is indeed a pleasing sight. And may the
time speed on when the diffusion of know-
ledge, and the peaceful influences of the gos-
pel of Christ, the Prince of peace, shall ren-
der forts and standing armies unnecessary
— that time which prophets have foretold,
when —

" To ploughshares men shall beat their swords,
To pruning hooks their spears."

FORT GIBSON.

It was about daybreak when we drew
near to this place, and our friend, the sur-
geon, called us out to enjoy the sight with
him : especially, he said, we should embrace
the rare opportunity now afforded, of look-
ing into the mouths of three rivers at the
same time. Straight before us the Neosho,
gliding smoothly down from the north ; the
Arkansas, rolling along its turbulent red
current, from the west, a part of which had
come from the Rocky Mountains ; and be-

INDIAN COUNTRY. 37

tween the two, the melancholy Yerdigris,
with its dark green waters.

Our friend politely pointed out whatever
objects of interest there were in sight, re-
marking upon their beauties, and the charms
of that bright morning; "but," says he,
*'we are doing wrong in standing here in
these river fogs, and the humid morning air;
we are drinking in fever now at every
breath. I do not allow myself to go out in
the morning air, in this warm damp coun-
try, till the stomach is fortified by refresh-
ment, and the air becomes dryer."

THE VERDIGRIS LANDING.

After spending a part of the day at Fort
Gibson, we returned to the boat, to drop
down the stream about two miles, and turn
up the Arkansas once more.

We steamed up this broad, logwood co-
loured stream, trying to make the Old Creek
Agency. But the captain, who had been
narrowly watching the banks, by and by
gave the order to turn about ; he saw that

38 SCENES IN THE

the water was falling, and knowing that
these streams subside as rapidly as they rise,
he dreaded the thought of being left aground
in these woods for months, during the
hot summer. So back we came, and
turned up the deep and narrow channel of
the Yerdigris ; its high banks being covered
with trees, which locked their great arms
together over our heads, almost shutting
out the daylight.

From Fort Gibson word had been sent to
the- Tallahassa Mission, and the Superin-
tendent was at the landing almost as soon
as we arrived. It was dark by the time our
goods were landed, and the ox-wagon had
arrived to take the baggage and the stores
for the Mission. For us there was a little
buggy, which had already done too much
service in the States before finding its way
into the Indian Territory, and before it was
a little black pony. An Indian boy belong-
ing to the school was on horseback, and
ready to serve as our guide, and so we
started ; our horse following his through the

INDIAN COUNTRY. 39

bushes and over the sand beds, sometimes tilt-
ed to one side, sometimes to the other. It was
late in the night when we arrived at the Mis-
sion. Such a ride as that, with all its at-
tendant circumstances, it being, moreover,
the introduction to a new country, and
to new scenes of labour, is amongst the
events which are not forgotten during a life-
time.

TALLAHASSA MISSION.

Here is a substantial brick building of
three stories high, with a modest cupola, in
which is a small bell, and which commands
a view of the country for many miles in
every direction. One half of the building
is the department for the boys, the other
for the girls; having a wide hall and stair-
case, with airy and commodious rooms on
either side in each department. Each de-
partment has its distinct yards; the dining
and recitation rooms are in common.

The orchard, ganlen, workshop, tool-room,
and stables, are near ; and the farm not far

40 SCENES IN THE

off. About a quarter of a mile distant is a
frame building for a chapel, and a little dis-
tance from this, the Mission burying ground,
over which many ancient oaks wave their
branches in solemn cadence with the moaning
winds. Some that were pupils in the school
lie buried there, and some who once were mis-
sionaries in that field, but are now far away,
often return thither in imagination, for
there is dust in that ground that is precious
to them.

The school building is situated between
the Arkansas and Verdigris rivers, about
four or five miles from each. From eighty
to a hundred Indian youth, of both sexes,
are gathered here for instruction, and from
all parts of the nation they have come, for
it is the school for the whole nation. Think
what an influence such an institution must
exert ; once in every three or four years, a
body of eighty or a hundred youth going
out through the tribe to spread more widely
the leaven of the gospel. Every year some
are leaving the school, who have been from

INDIAN COUNTRY. 41

two to five years under the tuition and guar-
dianship of pious men and women, to carry to
their homes and neio^hbourhoods, somethinfy,
at least, of what they have been learning by
precept and example; and when they be-
come heads of families, to bring up their
own children, not in the way that was prac-
tised by their forefathers, but according as
they have seen practised in Christian fami-
lies, and according to the rules which they
find in that Book of books which they have
learned to read, and which some of them
have learned to love.

KOWETAH MISSION.

This is eighteen miles west of Tallahassa,
in the skirts of the timber which lines the
banks of the Arkansas river. The road
running from Fort Gibson, through Talla-
hassa, past this Mission house, and then
stretching on towards the west, is the old
army trail. From Tallahassa to Kowetah,
it passes over rolling prairies, crossing two
or thr 'C small streams, but which, powerful

4*

42 SCENES IN THE

rains sometimes swell suddenly to rivers
that cannot be forded.

The Mission premises are not in sig^ht
from the prairie ; for the farm was made by
clearing away the forest, leaving a thin belt
of timber still standing between it and the
prairie.

The Mission house is pleasantly situated.
Grand old forest trees stand there, in all
their native pride and strength. The build-
ings are not at all imposing ; they have not
any of that look which would lead one to won-
der if they had been taken up out of the
city, and set down there ; but they bear the
marks of having been constructed of such
materials and with such tools as were at
hand, far out on the frontier ; they are inno-
cent of paint, or needless ornament; but they
look comfortable.

Let us see if we can set them before you,
so that you may be at home with us there,
for a little while.

There was first a solid one-and-a-half
story building of hewed logs, facing the east,

INDIAN COUNTRY. 43

with a wide hall and two rooms on each
side of it. Afterwards, as the school in-
creased, a two story building was joined to
its south end ; it was of hewed logs, and
weather boarded with clap-boards, split out
of oak trees, and covered with pine shingles.
Along the front was an open shed with rude
seats. On the west side of the old house
another building was added. Of these
buildings, No. 1 was tte girls' department :
No. 2, the boys' : No. 3, the dining-room,
store-room, kitchen, &c. You may think of
these as in the centre of a large yard, which
was surrounded by a high rail fence; the
yard, however, being divided in the middle
by a close picket fence, giving a separate
yard to each department, and you must not
forget about those noble trees, which were
very much higher than the houses. And
now we wish you to look along the west
side of the yard, and you see a row of little
cabins. The first was occupied by the black
man, who was hired by the month to work
on the farm, and who was also employed as

44: SCENES IN THE

interpreter. The second was the mill-room,
where "Uncle Frank," the blind negro man,
with an iron hand-mill, ground all the meal
and hommony used in the establishment, to
supply fifty mouths, and the bread used
there was principally of corn. (Uncle Frank's
own little cabin was still west of the mill-
house, and on the other side of a narrow
lane, in which lane is the "wood pile.")
The third cabin in the row was generally
reserved as a place for lodging strangers —
Indian families that wanted entertainment
for the night. For a time it was occupied
by a young man and his wife, who wished
to perfect himself in studies which had been
broken off a year or two previously. Be-
fore his marriage, he had acquired a taste
for learning, and having begun to drink at
this fountain, desired to drink still more.

Beyond this cabin was the smoke-house,
where the bacon was hung. On further,
and down back of all were the stables, hay
stacks, cattle pens, &c. Off at the east, and
down a little hill was a spring, and over

INDIAN COUNTRY. 45

it the milk-room. At the north- east was a
capacious garden, guarded by its picket
fence; the orchards at the west, and the
fieUls spread out beyond and around ; and
there were corn cribs here and there. And
thiswasthefarm with its appurtenances, where
Indian boys learned how to do all manner
o^ out- door work; and there the girls learned
to be good help-meets for educated Indian
men, by getting a knowledge of the method
of performing all manner of in-door work.

At the south, and in front of the house,
was an open space, covered with a green-
sward ; in the centre and most elevated point
of the green, stood the chapel, which during
the week days was also the school house.
It had no steeple or bell; but a hand bell
called the children into the school ; and to
gather the people from the surrounding cab-
ins for public worship, a man with strong
lungs blew a trumpet — a trumpet of the
most primitive kind, a long crooked horn
of an ox.

46 SCENES IN THE

East of the Mission premises is a pretty
valley ; and through that valley glides a
stream of pure water over a rocky bed. Be-
yond the stream is undulating ground with
scattering timber; and one of the prettiest
of those knobs is enclosed with a fence : it
is the Mission burying ground ; and there
lie the ashes of some of the saints. Some
who lie there are the blessed dead who rest
from their labours, their works following
them; and by their side sleep some of
those for whom they laboured, and who
will rise with them in the first resur-
rection— missionaries and those who, by
means of their teaching, were turned to the
Lord — teachers and pupils slumber together
there ; and Jesus watches their dust.

We are describing things as they were
when we were on the ground ; there have
been changes since — changes in the internal
economy, not in the external arrangement.
And even if the whole were changed, yet
what has been is worthy of record as a matter
of history. Those who have advanced up

INDIAN COUNTRY. 47

into the comfortable ceiled house, love to
talk about the first log cabin in the woods ;

so let me go on to tell you about the

ORIGIN OF THE KOWETAH MISSION

That little cabin No. 2, now the mill-house,
was first erected by the pioneer missionary,
who is the present Superintendent of the
Tallahassa Mission. Afterwards he brought
a wife to it, to share his labours. In that
one little cabin they taught a little day-school.
There they had experience of many priva-
tions, of some sorrows ; but yet of much en-
joyment through it all.

There, in that little log cabin, some who
are now teachers, and interpreters, and
church members, first began to acquire that
education which has rendered them useful
men and women in their nation : there they
began to learn respecting the way of life,
which some are now travelling, and as the
"light of the world and salt of the earth,"
are leading others in the same narrow way.
Among those early pupils was, I think, the

48 SCENES IN THE

boy, now the man and ordained minister,
who at this present time has charge of this
same Kowetah Mission, and the pastoral care
of the church.

From such records as this we learn not
to despise the day of small things. Look
over the Annual Eeports of the Board of
Foreign Missions, for the last fourteen or
fifteen years, and see to what that Mission has
grown, which commenced with one man in
a little lone cabin. That missionary still lives
to see the work go on ; indeed most of the im-
provements at the different stations have
been made under his superintendence, and
with much of his own manual labour.

At first the Creeks were hostile to schools,
and especially to Christian Missions. For-
merly missionaries connected with other
denominations had incurred the displeasure
of the chiefs, and had been driven from the
nation. Therefore, for a long time they had
been left without schools, and without the
preaching of the gospel ; except that there
were a few Indians and Negroes that claimed

INDIAN COUNTRY. 49

to be preachers ; but from reports concern-
ing them, it is to be feared that, however
well meaning they may have been, they
sometimes darkened counsel by words with-
out knowledge.

Our church began to be interested in this
nation ; especially the Secretary of the Board
of Foreign Missions, who, from his long fa-
miliarity with public affairs, had learned
the history and condition of the Indian
tribes, and had become ardently enlisted in
every feasible plan for elevating them, both
in temporal and spiritual things.

The chiefs of the nation were met in
council, and permission obtained to send a
man to them on trial. Such a man was
found who was willing to undertake the
mission. He travelled from his home, in
Georgia, to the Indian Territory ; traversed
the country on horseback, was present at a
council, was granted liberty to construct a
cabin ; and the ground lying between two
streams that were specified, was designated
as the Mission premises, so long as they saw

50 SCENES IN" THE

fit to tolerate the Mission at all. There he
might have permission to teach such children
and youth as chose to come to him ; and he
might preach in his own house, but nowhere
else; and these privileges he could enjoy
only so long as, in the opinion of the chiefs,
he behaved with propriety. If he trans-
gressed these rules, or meddled with the
affairs of the nation to their detriment, he
must be summarily expelled. That was a
license for one year only. The missionary
accordingly laboured within the limits pre-
scribed, and at the termination of the year
again went up to the council, reported what
he had been doing, and petitioned for a
wider field in which to preach. This was
unhesitatingly granted, for he had won the
entire confidence of the people, and disarmed
the fears of the chiefs ; and now, on their
part, they requested him to send to the
States for more men just like him^ with a
special reference to the enlarging of the
school, that educational advantages might
be more extensively enjoyed.

INDIAN COUNTRY. 51

In a short time he was allowed to go any-
where in the nation, preaching the gospel ;
and at the present time, our missionaries
and native preachers may travel, and hold
meetings, from the eastern limits of the
tribe, to the westward as far as the people
have carried their settlements, and from the
boundary which divides between them and
the Cherokees on the north, to the country
of the Choctaws on the south. Therefore,
again there is occasion to remark, " Despise
not the day of small things." This little
scrap of history also suggests the necessity
there is for prudence on the part of the mis-
sionary. The want of prudence caused the
expulsion of missionaries, who already had
a foothold on what seemed solid ground,
and nothing but the exercise of great pru-
dence could gain a new standing-place on
precarious ground. "Be ye wise as serpents,
and harmless as doves," is a part of the
charge which the Author of Missions gave to
bis first missionaries, and it is needed now
quite as much as then.

52 SCENES IN THE

THE AFRICAN INTERPRETER.

As we have not undertaken to give a mi-
nute and formal history of the Mission, we
may be allowed to describe scenes, and relate
events as they occur to us, and as we have
spoken of a small cabin in the south- west
corner of the yard, we will expend a few
words in speaking of the person that occu-
pied it. It seems that missionaries to the
aboriginal tribes of this country have beea
accustomed to preach to them through in-
terpreters, which is not the casein other for-
eign missions; and missionaries who learn the
language of the people to whom they are
sent, have greatly the advantage over those
who do not become familiar with the lan-
guage of the people to whom they go, as
Christ's ambassadors. Since, however, mis-
sionaries to the Indians make much use of
interpreters, it may not be unacceptable to
the reader to hear a little about them. Well,
one of our stated interpreters at the Kowe-
tah Mission, was Robin, a negro, and he oc-

INDIAN COUNTRY. 58

cupied tlie cabin in the corner. Eobin was
also a man of all work, and very *• handy "
at repairing tools, and preparing many little
"make shifts," which cannot be obtained in
that far off country, except by making.
Within, his cabin was like a boatswain's
locker, having a great many things, but all
in confusion. Under the window was the
tool chest, which served also for a seat, and
sometimes for a table ; there was a stool, and
one chair with a piece of green cowhide,
with the hair still on, drawn on it for a seat.
Hanging about, you see scraps of old har-
ness, buckles, spurs ; and there are hatchets
and hoes, axe-helves, broom-handles and
brooms, and some of these in process of con-
struction ; for this man occupies himself at
such labour in the evening, by way of over-
work, to earn pocket money for himself. At
the side of the room, opposite the great fire-
place, is the low bedstead, constructed of
poles, the ends of which are made fast in
the logs ; but it is not always occupied, for
Robin often sleeps on the floor : in the sum-

54 SCENES IN THE

mer to escape the mosquitoes, which he
fancies are not so numerous close to the
floor as a little above it, and in the winter,
because then he may roll himself in blankets,
not excepting the head, and place his feet
close to the fire, and thus keep warmer than
in any other way.

He was fond of talking, and once in a
while we would listen to an old legend or
tradition, as we were riding together, on
our long missionary excursions. Some re-
ference had been made once, to the colour of
the people of different nations, and the ques-
tion was started as to what may have been
the original colour ; when he repeated the
old Indian tradition of the three men who
originally were all black. They came to a
stream of water, and one of them washed in
it, and came out entirely white, and he was
the father of the white race. The second
washed in the now turbid water, and came
out only partially white, and he was the
father of the red men. The third, seeing
the water already too black, did not wash

INDIAN COUNTRY. Si

at all, except to touch the palms of his
hands, and the soles of his feet, therefore he
remained black, as do all the Negroes, his
posterity, to this day.

Then he repeated that other old story, by
which they account for the diversity of
tastes and employments, which tradition
many of the Indians firmly believe, and
many likewise believe that the habits of the
different races, and their social position, are
so firmly and unalterably fixed, that it is
useless to think of changing them.

The legend is, that those three men whose
colour had become fixed, as above related,
again started on their journey together, and
travelled till they came to a place in which
the Great Spirit had deposited a great va-
riety of articles, arranged in three separate
parcels. In one were books, maps, pens
and paper, etc., and the white man chose
these. In the second were bows and arrows,
beads and feathers, and the like, and the red
man caught up these ; and there was nothing
left for the poor black man but the spades,

66 SCENES IN THE

and hoes, and grubbing tools. Therefore,
in some instances, when we urge upon the
Indians the advantages of education, and
the importance of sending their children to
school, they answer, " Oh, learning is for
you white people ; the books were given to
you ; but to us the bow and arrow ; there-
fore the Great Spirit does not desire us to
change our mode of living."

Though it may be interesting to be able
to trace here a tradition respecting Shem,
Ham, and Japheth, and to wonder how far
back it had its origin ; yet it is humiliating
to reflect that there are people so near us
who still repeat over such stories, and teach
them to their children for solid history; and
who by means of them encourage themselves
to continue in ignorance, and to neglect the
means of elevation which are offered them.

But our interpreter was able to converse on
other subjects; and during our long rides
we learned many facts concerning the coun-
try, and the habits of the people, their civil
polity, and religious superstitions ; as well

INDIAN- COUNTRY. 67

as many things relating to the extent and
influence of Christianity amongst the Indians.

The missionary and his interpreter soon
get to un(lerstan(] each other ; they warm
up together, and one seems to stimulate the
other, the interpreter becoming apparently
as much interested in the subject as the
preacher himself.

After a few years of such service the inter-
preters become well stocked with Theological
and Biblical learning; and, if they are pious
men they are prepared to be very useful.

This man, of whom we have been speak-
ing, thought he would be able to repeat, entire,
many sermons that he had interpreted, and
in which he had become especially interested :
indeed this, he said, was the way in which
lie occupied himself in his lonely hours.
One of the ladies once asked him how he
amused himself in his long rides over the
prairie; for every other Saturday he rode,
on his own pony, away several miles to
spend the day with his wife. He an-
swered, " Why, ma'am, some of the way I

00 SCENES IN THE

sings, and some of the way I prays, and some
of the way I preaches." "Preach, Robin!
and to whom do you preach ?" she asked.
*' Oh, to myself, ma'am."

UNCLE FRANK.

This was the black man, whose quarters
were in the rear of the mill-house, and who
ground the meal. He was entirely blind ;
had once been a bondman, was now free;
and, what was better than all, he gave good
evidence of being one of the Lord's freemen.

He kept hissnuglittle room in good order,
neater than some do who have both their
eyes. He chopped his own wood ; and some-
times we found him engaged in mending his
clothes, which he chose to do rather than to
be the occasion of unnecessary trouble to
others. With his cane he felt his way
around : scarce ever was he absent from the
religious meetings, or from the morning and
evening worship. He was always devout,
and always cheerful. God's ways, he said,
were all right and merciful too. Occasion-

INDIAN COUNTRY. 59

ally we went to spend a few minutes with
him, as he stood at his work, or sat in his
door after the day's work was done, to bear
him tell of what the Lord had done f^r his
soul. He was wont to say that he never
could express all his thankfulness to God for
ever permitting him to hear the gospel, and
for causing him to see what a sinner he was,
and what danger he was in ; and then to see
Jesus and to trust in him as the Lamb of
God that taketh away sin. " And still" —
he would go on to say — "still the good Lord
is taking care of me so well ; giving me so
good a home, and causing people to be so
kind to me, a poor old black man, and blind,
without money, relatives, or home of my
own." Now his wants were all supplied,
even better than many that were not blind ;
and for himself he was happier than he was
years ago when he could see ; for now he
had such charming seasons of prayer : it
seemed to him that in prayer he was very
near to God, and did really talk with him :
and now, oh, how he loved to think over what

60 SCENES IN THE

he had heard read out of the Bible I " Oh that
delightful book, sir !" he would say. " Strange
it is, sir, that we seem to hear it like a new
book every time, and to get some fresh light
from it every time ! Does it seem so to you,
sir, when you read it? or have you learned
it to the bottom ?" Often he would come to
the rooms of the missionaries, and modestly

inquire, "Is Mr. or Mrs. or is

Miss at leisure for a few minutes?"

" Yes, al ways at leisure to serve Uncle Frank ;
and what wSl you have?" would be the re-
ply. " Well, if you please," he would say,
" I would be so much obliged if you would
read to me a few verses." So the Bible, or
some good book is opened, and a few passa-
ges read, with now and then a few comments,
and Frank says, " Oh that is beautiful ! thank
you. I am indeed. very much obliged." And
he goes back to his work, or to his room
to ruminate, and study upon what he has
heard, and to employ himself in prayer; for
there is evidence that he is a man of prayer,
and that he prays for blessings on those who

INDIAN COUNTRY. 61

consider his infirmities, and do not despise
his ignorance; and he prays too for bless-
ings on those good people in the States who
give money to support missionaries and
schools amongst the Indians; that the mer-
ciful may obtain mercy, that the liberal soul
may be made fat.

As he goes out, and gropes his way through
the pitchy darkness — for every-where, by
day or by night, it is dark to him — the mis-
sionary says to himself, " Happy man ! God
bless and comfort him ever ! May the eyes
of his understanding be more and more en-
lightened, though his eyes are dark ;" and im-
mediately he turns to other duties, and perhaps
thinks no more of what he has done; but He
who says, " I know thy works, and thy la-
bour, and thy patience," has seen it. Deeds
like this done for Christ's disciples, if per-
formed with a right spirit, shall not fail of
their reward : and every person may find
some such work to do — ^some opportunity
to give a cup of cold water in the name of
a disciple.

6

62 SCENES IN THE

THE SCHOOL.

The regular study hours are from nine to
twelve, and from one till four; and often
parts of the evening are employed in giving
additional instruction to some of the advanced
classes ; or in familiar lectures to the whole
school, to enlighten them in general know-
ledge.

Before and after school hours, the pupils
separate into different companies for work.
Some of the boys with their axes repair to
the wood pile, others with hoes are put to
work in the field. Among such a number
of boys just out of school, it would not be
surprising if there were more inclination to
play than labour: indeed the man who is
with them has his patience tried no little ;
but if he manages them skilfully he will get
some work done ; but what is better, and
which in fact is the chief object in putting
the pupils to manual labour, he may teach
them how different kinds of work should be
done ; and by engaging with them himself
they see that he is not above labour : also

INDIAN COUNTRY. 63

during the hours in which he is with them
in the field he has opportunity for dropping
many useful hints, and directing their minds
to the various objects around them which
manifest the power, wisdom, and goodness
of the Creator and Preserver of all things.

In the larger missions there is one who
manages the temporal affairs of the establish-
ment, and who takes charge of the boys
when out of school ; laying out their work,
and directing and encouraging them in it.
He is sometimes denominated the Steward
and Farmer.

Suppose we attempt to draw a sketch of
him and of his charge, as clearly as we can,
and we will call him

THE FARMER MISSIONARY.

Missionary operations amongst the In-
dians are conducted differently, in some
respects, from the missions in India, China^
and Africa. Here the manual labour board-
ing-schools are a very important auxiliary
in the work; and to conduct these success-

64: SCENES IN THE

fully, there should be a number of mission-
aries who oversee different departments.

For example, at one station there is a
superintendent, who is also the chaplain ; a
teacher and two assistants ; a farmer, who is
also steward; a lady, who has care of the
domestic apartment; another who has charge
of the girls out of school, and teaches them
in needle-work and other branches of indus-
try proper for their sex ; and a lady who has
charge of the boys' clothes.

These are all missionaries ; but just now we
are to tell you something about the farmer.
There are, perhaps, some that might look
upon this as not the most honourable part of
missionary labour; but, let us inquire what
he does, and what his influence is likely to
be, and what portion of the time he has the
boys with him. We expect, of course, that
he is a man of a good English education, of
a strong mind, good common sense, of some
experience, an enterprising man, and an
active Christian. This man is with the
hoys of the boarding-school, four or five

INDIAN COUNTRY. 65

hours each day, teaching them the various
kinds of work which farmers have to do.

The Indians, you know, have been rovers
in former times, living by hunting, fishing,
or begging, and sometimes by plunder, and
on such corn and beans as their women
could cultivate ; for the men considered it
dishonourable to work in the fields. There
was no hope of civilizing these tribes unless
they could be induced to abandon their mi-
gratory habits, and settle down as farmers
or herdsmen ; and the most effectual means
for bringing about such a result, has been
found to be the Mission boarding-school ;
and in this work, as you at once perceive, a
practical farmer is needed. Not merely a
man who has the theory of farming, nor one
who is wanting in the needful muscle, or
the disposition to labour which is found in
a practical farmer ; but he should be a man
that can take hold and do the work; or, in
farmers' phrase, not one that would say, "Go,
boys," but, " Come, boys." One to go ahead,

66 SCENES IX THE

both encouraging the lads, and showing
them how the thing is to be done.

Thus, putting his own hand to the work,
or laying his own shoulder to the wlieel, he
diornifies labour in the eves of the Indian
youth ; they will not be ashamed or afraid
to undertake anything the missionary can
do. In the field he teaches the boys the
practical part of ploughing, planting, and
tending crops, with remarks as to the best
time, and best mode of doing the same; and
how to do this, and that, and a hundred
other things, that we cannot now mention,
and which are not likely to be thought of,
only as they occur. For instance, the plough-
handles break. What is to be done ? The
farmer says, *' What's to be done now, boys ?"
'' I don't know," says one. " I don't know,"
says another. "Beckon we can't plough
any more," says a third. "Shall have to
buy a new plough," is the verdict of the
fourth. But the farmer says, " Come with
me." So he gets an axe, and they go to the
woods. " What sort of timber must we

INDIAN COUNTRY. 67

cut?" "I don't know," they all say. So
he tells them what to get. Then he cuts
and hews ; and goes to the tool-box, and
selects the proper tools, and before long the
handles are worked, and fitted, and the
plough is ready to go to the field again.
Perhaps, a great many years afterwards,
when these boys become men, and have
farms, they may break plough handles, or
some other farming implements, and they

will remember how Mr. did when

tliey were "at the Mission," and they are
able to go to work and mend what they
break, or make new articles that they may
require.

The farmer missionary has the best of
opportunities for dropping here a word of
counsel, and there a word of instruction ; or
of enforcing or illustrating what they have
learned in school, or in the sermon of the
previous Sabbath; and these lessons will,
doubtless, be remembered longer, or at least,
as long as any others they receive.

Children that have been reared on a farm,

68 SCENES IN THE

and have had pious fathers, will remember
how these fathers conversed with them in
the field day after day, beguiling the hours,
and rendering labour easier; and they will
be reminded of the great amount of know-
ledge which they acquired in those days,
almost unconsciously. They will remember
how they used to have illustrated to them
the parable of the sower ; the tares and the
wheat ; the wheat and the chaff; the barren
tree ; and the things in the spiritual world,
which, are represented by breaking up of fal-
low ground, and the influences of the Spirit
on the heart, like the sun and the rain on the
fields. Well, now, you who remember with
pleasure these things, and who venerate the
memory of those godly fathers, just think
of the farmer missionary as the father, if you
please, of such a family of boys, embryo
farmers — large families, it is true ; for some
have twenty, some forty, and some even one
hundred boys to look after. He will be re-
membered by these boys as long as they
live ; by many he will be loved, something,

INDIAN- COUNTRY. 69

perhaps, as you remember a parent, and
some, very likely, may remember him as
the means, more than any other person, of
their conversion.

FEMALE DEPARTMENT.

The girls, when out of school, are likewise
appointed to their several tasks, or divisions
of labour for the week; and the week follow-
ing a change is made, so that all in turn are
engaged in the different branches of domestic
economy, having the ladies of the mission to
direct them. Those ladies have to do more
than to oversee them ; they have to put their
own hands to the work, in order to show
how it is to be done. Amongst the Indian
girls there are spirits hard to manage — diffi-
cult to tame: not unfrequently there is a
case of "desertion" — a pupil broke loose
from school, and escaped to its home. Un-
tutored Indian children are not to be recon-
ciled at once to the dull routine of school,
and the stately uniformity of a well ordered
household : it is a great change from the

70 SCENES IN THE

free and indolent life to wliicli tliey had been
accustomed.

There were two little creatures — brother
and sister. When brought to the Mission
they were as shy as young partridges ; and
many was the time that they ran away.
As soon as they were missed, a messenger
would be posted after them. Their quick
ears, however, would hear the sound of ap-
proaching footsteps, and they would turn aside
and skulk in the bushes till the messenger
had passed ; and when, not finding them at
home, he turns back thinking that certainly
he must meet them on his return, they,
being quicker to hear than he to see,
would again elude him ; and perhaps for se-
veral days they would avoid being caught.

One morning two little girls were missing.
They had been at the Mission a long time,
and seemed contented ; their homes were far
off, and they had no relatives near at hand :
they were not to be found anywhere in the
neighbourhood : we only knew that they
were gone, and had taken some of their

INDIAN COUNTRY. 71

clothes with them. It was afterwards learn-
ed that those two little girls, with no other
company, had arisen sometime in the night,
crept softly from the house, and carrying
their bundles, had travelled eighteen miles
through the dark woods and over the soli-
tary prairie.

HOW THEY WORK.

Yisit one of those Mission boarding-
schools, and if it is in the morning or even-
ing, you would think it a very busy place.
About the kitchen and dining room you see
some of the girls assisting in cooking, others
in preparing the tables ; some are at the
milk-room ; others in the clothes room, some
making or mending clothes, others ironing
folding and laying them away — each child's
garments in its own particular place; some are
pounding corn in great wooden mortars, and
others are cleaning it with such fans as the
ancients in eastern countries used for winnow-
ing grain ; this corn is for sofky^ and " large
hommony." If it is Monday forenoon, many^

72 SCENES IN THE

of the girls are earnestly and cheerfully at
work in the wash-room.

THEIR RECREATIONS.

It is not "all work and no play" at these
schools. Suitable and healthful recreations
are encouraged.. Some portion of the time
every day is theirs to use as they please ;
and it is pleasant and exhilarating even
to see and hear them stretching their
muscles and expanding their lungs in their
sports ; some of which we see practised by
children in the States, and some of which we
never witnessed except amongst the Indian
children. On the holidays, or half-holidays,
the girls may be seen in groups gathering
wild flowers, resorting to the river's bank, or
making little visits to young friends that
reside near. Some of the older girls im-
prove the time in writing compositions, or
in getting instruction from the ladies in
fancy-work.

The boys occasionally go out gathering
berries or nuts ; or they go a hunting — not

INDIAN COUNTRY. 73

with fire-arms, but with sticks and dogs.
An Indian boj would run down a rabbit
without any trouble. Often on a moon-light
night would be an application for permission
to go and hunt racoons and opossums ; but
generally they brought in more polecats
than racoons.

The half day of the hunt was sometimes
followed with an eveningof feasting, in hunts-
man's style.

It was a picturesque scene, that frolick-
some company of Indian boys around their
fire, which was kindled on the ground at a
safe distance from the house, dressing and
barbacuing their game, and eating it, to-
gether with potatoes roasted in the ashes.

Singing was an exercise much practised
by the children, and in which they took
great delight. We always had good music
in our public and family worship, for all the
pupils joined in the song, making melody.

They had also their own little concerts of
singing. It was not uncommon of a summer
evening for the boys to gather in their ve-

74 SCENES IN THE

randah, and tlie girls in their wide hall or
under the spreading oaks, and the notes of
sacred song with hymns of devotion, would
rise and swell upon the evening air; and, as
we were wont to fancy, rising through the
tree tops, and floating upward to the skies.
Such, we doubt not, was the case with the
praises uttered by some of those once hea-
then children, for there were amongst them
those, we trust, who sung with the spirit,
and with the understanding also.

We will suppose that, wearied with the
multifarious duties of the day, you have re-
tired to your room to enjoy a quiet hour in
reading or writing, when gently stealing on
your ear, comes the soothing sound of sacred
melody, and willingly you lay down that
book or pen, and listen to the soft music of
twenty youthful voices, and your own soul
seems to be wafted, as it were, on the wings
of their sono^ to that

-happy land,

Far, far away,
of which they are singing.

INDIAN COUNTRY. 75

The hymn is ended, and the last notes
have died away on the still evening air,
leaving you absorbed in pleasant reveries ;
when from under the trees, where the girls
are congregated, there comes a responsive
song, and it may be the same hymn, but in
their own native Muskogee tongue, and thus
they chant,

" Ekvnv herata ! Hopiyetvn !
Em mekusapvlkeh, Apeyvtes ;
Mvn yvhikvkepet, Pa Hesayecv Mekko :
Akvsvmvkepet, Apokepes."

SCENE IN THE DINING-ROOM.

Let a stranger come in at breakfast, or
supper time, and we think he would be in-
terested. After the meal is ended, each,
teacher and pupil recites a verse of Scrip-
ture, beginning at the head of one of the
tables and passing around through the en-
tire company. At other times, the answers
of the Catechism are thus recited. Then a
chapter is read, with a few brief comments,
explanations, and practical observations, as

fS SCENES IN THE

time and circumstances will allow ; then tlie
hymn and the prayer. This is edifying
and refreshing; for as our bodies require
their daily bread, so do our souls need some
spiritual aliment day by day : and the
strangers who may be present, be they
parents that have come on a visit to their
children, or travellers who have turned in
to tarry for a night, have, by this arrange-
ment, an opportunity of learning about God,
and the way to worship him.

We look to those brief religious exercises,
especially those which followed the evening
meal, with very much pleasure. All the
people employed about the house or farm
were present on these occasions ; and just
now we seem to see that devout face of
Uncle Frank, and that large and intelligent
eye of the interpreter, rolling quicker as some
new idea enters his understanding, or a new
thought springs up in his own mind. The
children, when questioned on the chapter,
gave evidence by their answers, that they
had not been listless, and that they were

INDIAN COUNTRY. 77

daily gathering up more of that knowledge
which is able to make men wise unto eter-
ual life.

HELP THOSE WOMEN.

" Hel}^ those women luJiich laboured luith me in
the gospeV Phil. iv. 3.

That is a self-denying and arduous work
in which the ladies in these Missions are en-
gaged, and we ought to thank the Lord that
he still disposes some to devote themselves
to his service in these fields ; for without
them, the whole work connected with the
boarding-schools would have to stop. Ladies,
to a large extent, are employed as teachers :
and they are efficient teachers. There must,
of course, be ladies to superintend all the
domestic arrangements. Without ladies,
from whence, in such an establishment,
would come that subduing, softening, and
refining influence which is found, or pre-
served for any length of time, only where

78 SCENES IN THE

ladies dwell; and which influence is needed
in enlightening and elevating any people ?

The trials — those trials which are the
hardest to bear — of the female missionaries
in these fields are such as are not paraded
before the public, and which, therefore, they
have to bear alone, because few know them.
There are trials in getting to their place of
labour. When there, they are far away
from home and friends ; though on their
own continent, yet in some measure, isolated
from the stirring, news-reading world, of
which they before formed a part. The Mis-
sion stations are far apart, and when there
is a vacation, in which they might go to
visit their fellow-labourers at other stations,
they find their modes of travelling slow and
uncomfortable, compared with what they
bad been accustomed to at home. Going to
meeting in ox-wagons, or starting on a jour-
ney of two hundred, or four hundred miles
out and back, with rivers to ford, or per-
haps to swim ; with horses breaking down,
and then two ladies ^ated on one beast to

INDIAN COUNTRY. 79

prosecute the journey; this is a new thing
to most of our missionary ladies, until they
arrive in the Indian country. The luxuries,
and many of the conveniences of life, to
which, perhaps, they had always been ac-
customed, are not now within their reach ;
and help in the kitchen sometimes cannot
be obtained, when absolutely necessary. Be-
fore the Indian girls can be made useful,
they have, in most cases, to be taught, and
some have first to be tamed and subdued
They are tried with the unruly and perverse
temper of children who, in some cases, seem
to delight to tease and worry their teachers
and matrons ; this is not mentioned in the
papers, nor referred to in platform speeches ;
nor is the public told how sad and discour-
aged the lady sometimes is, when she finds
that the task she directed to be done, is
not done, and that the girl has run away to
play, and she herself has to perform the
work. Letters written for the Missionary
journals, do not let you into the inner heart
of that good Christian woman, who has

80 SCENES IN THE

been for days and weeks endeavouring to
win the affections of certain of the children
who are members of the circle of which she
has charge, and still they remain intractable,
unthankful — do not return love for love.

The journals do not portray the state of
that heart which, in hours of dejection, and
discouragement, and loneliness, is thinking
of a mother or sister far away, and that is
pining for their society, just for the sweet
privilege of even once unbosoming all to
them, telling all its cares.

There are trials which result from sick-
ness or enfeebled health, and impaired
strength ; while the labours remain undi-
minished ; trials also from the loss of fel-
low-labourerS; and a consequently increased
burden of cares and duties ; such trials,
sometimes, as those experience, who have
families that need medical treatment, or
themselves are sick, but physicians are not
at hand ; and there are trials, such as you
may imagine, when many of the pupils are
prostrated with an epidemic disease, and the

INDIAN" COUNTRY. 81

duties of nurse, both by day and by night,
are added to all their other duties.

Therefore we say, " Help those women ivliich
laboured 10 ith us in the gospel P^ Help them
with the assurance that they have your
sympathy: help them with your prayers:
help them where you can, with material aid.
This you can do : you can contribute the
means by which they may be supplied with
more of the thousand little conveniencies of
life ; and, what would be more acceptable to
them, you can send to their aid fellow-la-
bourers, so that they need not be over-
worked, and so that, when disabled by sick-
ness, they may be relieved from cares, and
thereby useful lives may be continued to the
Mission, and to the service of Christ on
earth.

To the ladies themselves we would repeat
those words of our Master, where he says to
his servants, " I know thy works, and thy
labour and thy patience." Let this encourage
and comfort you. Though the world does not,
and cannot know the hundredth part of what

BSt SCENES IN THE

you have to do and to endure, yet. He whom
most it concerns, and who is able to appre-
ciate, he knows, and he will reward it all.
He knows all the works performed there
in the daily routine of duty. He knows all
the extra and exhausting labours which you
perform, and to which love constrains you.
He knows your assiduity in teaching from
day to day, and on and on still for
months and for years. He knows your pa-
tience in this work, and the labour and pain
it may cost you. When friends, or the com-
forts of home invite you to retire from
the field, and to leave the burden and heat
of the day to other labourers, he knows how
you overcome these temptations, and still
have patience and faint not. He is a wit-
ness to all that you do, because of the love
you bear to him. He knows all your in-
terest in the great work of Christian Mis-
sions, and your love for the people for whose
good you have voluntarily submitted to
these many privations. Your works may
never be published over the world, and when

INDIAIT COUNTRY. 83

you die, but a few of your fellow mortals may
know it ; but your Saviour perfectly knows
all. and will take care that your labours are
not be in vain, and that you shall not lose
your reward.

He knows your patience too — your pa-
tience in the midst of discouragements; your
endurance of trials ; your patience in wait-
ing for the precious fruit, and your patience
in affliction. He knows how you bear with
the dulness, or indifference, or perversity
of the children of your charge. When sick,
or worn down with care and constant exer-
tion, he knows with what patient endurance
you still work on.

That patient woman who continues to hear
some of her classes, though she is unable to
leave her room, and when she cannot even
sit up in her bed, still gives the girls instruc-
tion in their work — let her know that He
who loved the sisters of Bethany, who ap-
proved what Mary had done in washing his
feet, and what another had done in anoint-
ing his head ; who stood over against the

"84 SCENES IN THE

treasury when the poor widow threw in her
two mites — let her know that He is near her,
and knows her work, and her labour, and her
patience. By and by he will say, " Inas-
much as ye have done it unto one of the
least of these, ye have done it unto me."

There is a time coming when some of the
acts which now glitter before the world will
be of no account ; and when, on the other
hand, such as worldly men did not heed at
all, shall command the admiration of the
universe. Then those women, who, be-
cause they loved much, were ready to do,
and to suffer much, and so left the comforts
and refinements of home for a life of labour
and privation in a Mission field, may be
bidden to a seat that is higher than the seats
of many who have in this world occupied
high places, and been caressed and ap-
plauded.

But their experience is not all discourag-
ing : it is not all sowing in tears : they see
harvest times also, when those who went
forth weeping, bearing precious seed, come

INDIAN COUNTRY. 85

again with rejoicing, bringing their sheaves
with them.

When now and then one of those pupils
who once caused so much anxiety, comes to
the missionary, begging to be told what she
shall do to be saved, the toil-worn servant
of God forgets all her former weariness and
heart-aches: and when she sees one and ano-
ther at different times coming before the
church to take upon them the vows of God,
and when with her they sit down to the table
of the Lord, she remembers no more her sor-
row, for joy that they are born again. And
in after years, when travelling or visiting in
the nation, she stops at a comfortable farm
house, and finds there an industrious, intel-
ligent. Christian wife and mother, she feels
more than paid for all the pains and patience
expended upon her ; when she finds the com-
mon schools of the nation taught by those
who once gave so little promise, and were
so troublesome, she reproaches herself for
her little faith. Now, after many days, she

gg SCENES IN THE

finds the bread that was cast upon the
waters.

THE CAUSE WHICH WAS DEAREST.

The Indian Missions afford many exam-
ples of veteran soldiers of Christ who gave
to his self-denying, toilsome, and sometimes
perilous service the dew of their youth; and
who, though their locks are growing white,
and the weight of years is bowing their
heads somewhat, yet have not asked to
be discharged; and their faithful wives to-
gether with them have patience, and labour,
and faint not.

Kecently a lady withdrew from the Mis-
sion, simply because she fancied that on ac-
count of her advanced age she could no
longer be of essential service to " a cause
which was dearer to her than any other on
earthP

When a young lady, she entered on her
missionary life, the first portion of which
was spent amongst the Cherokees. Together
with a brother who was also a missionary.

INDIAN COUNTKY. 87

slie accompanied the tribe in several of their
removals to the west of the Mississippi.

Soon after our Mission was established
among the Creeks, she joined it, and for more
than thirty years has she been toiling, plan-
ning, and praying for the interests of these
Missions, and for the good of the poor In-
dian, just as that person would be expected
to do, to whose heart this cause was the most
precious. It did indeed seem to be her de-
light to be able to serve her Master, in doing
good to the bodies and souls of these rem-
nants of the nations, that once were the lords
of the continent.

Day after day she worked in the kitchen,
or laundry, or school room, or in nursing
the sick — anywhere, so that she might be
useful. Day after day for thirty years, she
laboured and fainted not. After thirty years'
experience and observation, it was still the
cause which lay nearest her heart.

Her long familiarity with the Indian
character, and knowledge of his habits and
prejudices, and her great experience in Mis'

88 SCENES IN THE

sion schools had qualified her for eminent
usefulness: the missionaries were constantly
consulting her, and freely and kindly was
advice imparted.

As you may well imagine, she was a per-
son of determined purpose, and being of a
strong constitution and perfect health, hav-
ing energy of body and an active mind, she
always seemed to know what should be
done, and was as prompt to do it.

Early one morning, while living at the
Dwight Mission, when it was announced
that three of the larger girls did not answer
to the usual call, and were not to be found on
the premises, she requested that the fleetest
horse should be saddled, and at once started,
and after them she rode. They, doubtless,
had many hours the start of her, but she
suspected what course they would take, and
onward she pursued, and at length came in
sight of them as they were swimming a
river, with their clothes and their bundles
tied to the back of their heads.

As they reached the farther bank, she

INDIAN COUNTRY. 89

rode up, and in the tone of one accustomed
to command, ordered them to " stop, turn
right around, and swim back again imme-
diately." And they, all at once, answered,
" 0 Miss N , is that you ? We saw some-
body coming, but if we had known it was
you, we wouldn't have tried to get away."
So they turned, and recrossed the stream,
and accompanied her home without a sign
of demurring, or attempt to escape.

Though at times a little stern, yet she was
always loved. Those very girls that she
arrested, were very likely gathering wild
flowers for her pretty soon, while on their
return journey ; and she, as was her wont,
would doubtless be engaging them in pleas-
ant conversation; and possibly, they may
have been amongst the number that were
engaged in that demonstration of which we
have heard, though I do not remember just
the date of the occurrence, or the precise
place. The teacher had been absent from
the mission a short time; but to the girls, it
seemed a very long time. When she was

8*

&d SCENES IN THE

seen coming along the road, the word flew

that " Miss N had come," and many of

the girls met her at the stile, and took forci-
ble possession of her ; four of the largest
making an extemporaneous seat with their
joined hands, and thus they bore her, with
boisterous demonstrations of joy, around
the yard, and then to her room.

She could endure much. Many were the
long rides which she took on horseback.
We have heard her speak of being thrown
from her horse on a dark night, and in a
thunder storm, her horse being frightened
by a fierce flash of lightning, close to his
face. Where she was thrown was in the
middle of a wide prairie, without a stone,
stump, or a mound at hand to aid her in re-
mounting, and with only an Indian boy for
an escort. We have heard of her taking a
horseback journey from the Arkansas to
the Eed river, and back again.

Though she has retired from service in
that field, yet while she continues here with
us, a companion in tribulation, and in the

INDIAN COUNTRY. 91

kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ,
the church, we doubt not, will have her
prayers; and when, at last, she rests from
all her labours, we trust that many blessed
fruits of that thirty years of missionary la-
bour may follow her.

PORTRAIT OF A MISSIONARY AMONGST THE
INDIANS.

We do not pretend to say that they all
look alike ; nor that the men for this field are
selected with reference to their stature or
girth. But for this picture, you may im-
agine a man still on the forenoon side of the
meridian of life, more than six feet high,
with broad shoulders, strongly built every
way, and active as strong. There is little
doubt that, when a youth, he could jump as
far, and run as fast as the best in his neigh-
bourhood ; and (in a whisper I may say it)
he would sometimes give the school boys,
in play time, a small specimen as to how
such things might be done; their best run-
ner could hardly catch him, and their best

V2 SCENES IN THE

player couldn't beat him in knocking, throw-
ing, or catching the ball : and he would try
his hand with them in shooting with the
blow gun, or bow and arrow. He was, you
see, a believer in the doctrine that " All
work (or all study) and no play, makes
Jack a dull boy." He was an earnest
man. As you observe hirn moving about
through the rooms, up and down stairs,
about the yards, to the garden, then to the
fields, you say, Surely that is an earnest
man in whatever he undertakes.

He is always cheerful ; he has a smile and
a kind word for every child in the school,
for every fellow labourer, for every man,
woman, or child he meets ; be it the first
chief or the poorest of the common people ;
or be it at morning, noon, or night ; be it in
a fair day or a dull day. Such a man, you
may be sure, will be popular among the In-
dians. We never knew him to be down
sick, and scarce ever at all unwell ; for he
was blessed with a good constitution ; and
abundant exercise, and plain diet, with the

INDIAN COUNTRY. 93

blessing of God — without which, no rules
of health would avail — have kept him
healthy and robust. lie loves to preach,
and he loves to sing; nor do these labours
and exercises tire him, and the Indians and
Indian children never tire of singing with
him, whether in English or Muskokee.

Now you may see him preparing for a
short preaching excursion. In those well
worn saddle-bags, covered with black bear
skin, is the Bible, an English and a Musko-
kee hymn book, a few tracts and catechisms,
in both languages, and a few simple medi-
cines ; for the Indians persist in believing
and declaring that he is a first rate doctor.
That Mackinaw blanket strapped on the
saddle, is to serve three purposes, viz : for a
softer saddle seat, for a cloak when it rains,
and for a bed at night. If it is for a long
tour, you will see a tin cup, and coffee pot,
and skillet, hanging from some part of the
saddle on one side, and a small sack of pro-
visions to balance it on the other. Willie,
or Roan, or Wellington — whichever it is —

94 SCENES IN THE

seems to understand that it is for a long
jaunt, and he moves off very moderately, in a
swinging pace, and not in a lope as at other
times. That noble fellow will walk his
master safely through the shallow streams,
and swim him over the deep rivers ; and
should he go under now and then, because
he can't help it, he will let him catch to his
tail, if they are so much favoured as to rise
to the surface at the same time, and thus he
will tow him to the shore. If, where they
turn in at night, there is no corn, as is not
unlikely to be the case, he will put up with
hay ; and if there is no hay, he will consent
to be tethered with a long rope, and pick
up what he can on the ground ; and if there
is no long rope, the patient animal will
stand all night tied to a tree, and browze
upon the twigs, asking only the privilege
of nibbling the grass by the way-side to-
morrow, with a promise that he shall be
baited at the first corn crib they come to.

AVhen the missionary gets home again,
he is as busy as ever, and if you have busi-

INDIAN COUNTRY. 95

ness with him, it may cost you a sharp look-
out to find him ; for he may be away over-
seeing the work on the farm, or down in
the timber to select a tree for the men to
cut, for some particular purpose ; or he is
called off to shoot down that wild steer that
has been driven up to make them a change
of diet; or perhaps he is out grafting trees^
or preparing ground for a nursery, or he
has gone to the shop to make or mend some-
thing; or possibly, there is some little diffi-
culty between some of the scholars^ which
their teacher feels incompetent to decide,
and he is called in to hear, patiently, the
whole case from beginning to end; or he is
entertaining some stranger Indians from a
distant village, or conversing with the
parents of some of the pupils, who are on a
visit to see how their children fare ; or he
may be weighing out medicine for the sick,
or himself just starting to visit a sick neigh-
bour; but, if you fail to find him engaged in
such like labours, make your way to his
study, and there, with his interpreter, you

96 SCENES IN THE

will find him hard at work over a manu-
script, and you perceive that it is a transla-
tion of the Scriptures on which they are em-
ployed, or a catechism or tract.

THE TEACHER.

He is a graduate of an eastern college, has
taught in academies in the States where he
received a fine salary, and was in a way to
advance, like other teachers, to the rank of
professor ; but he heard a call from the
church, or rather from the Head of the
church, to go and teach the poor Indian ;
and you will find him now where he has
been for years, applying himself diligently
day after day in the school room. He can
teach either A, B, and C, or the mysteries of
the natural sciences, the elegancies of the
ancient languages, or the sublimities of
mathematics. Steadily he returns to this
work every morning, and on through all the
days of the term, and all the terms of the
year ; and not only throughout the day does
he work, but how often at night does he

INDIAN COUNTRY. 97

gather the school to listen to an oral lesson,
or a lecture, with illustrations, pictures, or
apparatus! Sometimes it happens that there
is no steward or farmer in the Mission, and
he for a time attends to the duties of that
department, in addition to his other labours.
But he is always a busy man, whether from
necessity or choice. Many useful articles,
which you may see about the house, were
made by him during the intervals of school.

Not unfrequently he may be met roaming
over the prairie and through the woods,
gathering specimens in botany, mineralogy,
or entomology, and other facts in science, to
send to the great masters and professors at
the east, who have requested the favour of
such services, and who are building up a re-
putation of their own for great research.
diligence, &c., partly by means of such agents
as this, who themselves are never known to
fame.

The labours of the day all done, and the
children all settled in their beds, you may
see the light still burning in his room ; and

98 SCENES IN THE

there he is at his books, and his wife with
him : they are making a grammar of the
language, or preparing a tract.

And now, let us inquire what it is that
can reconcile a person of education, of refine-
ment, and accustomed to the society of
learned and polite people — what can recon-
cile him to a comparatively isolated situa-
tion, and to the work and dull routine of
such a school as this in which we find him?
What but the consciousness that he is in his
Master's service, and the hope that his la-
bours shall not be in vain in the Lord — the
hope that he is contributing the influence
of one man, of one life-time towards elevat-
ing the character and social position of a
whole tribe — the hope that future genera-
tions may witness the fruits of seed sown by
his hand, though his own eyes may not see
much of it while he lives ? He is stimulated
by the evidence afforded all around him of
the absolute necessity of schools, in order to
the greatest success of an Indian Mission, as
well as by the great improvement already

INDIAN COUNTRY. 99

effected by means of such schools ; he is
cheered by the belief that a rich field lies
open before every teacher of children and
youth to sow the seeds of saving knowledge,
and thus to be instrumental in training im-
mortal souls for heaven. Again at times,
he reasons like a philosopher on the subject,
and his conclusions strengthen his deter-
mination to hold on his way. He says, " If,
as we have read, ' He is a benefactor of his
race luJio causes two sinres of grass to grow
where only one grew before ;'^ is not he who is
an agent in starting into being many ideas
in minds where there were but few before — ■
is not he who is raising up teachers, native
teachers for a people that had them not be-
fore— who is preparing the way to give a
literature to a nation that had none before;
and who is preparing the way for the erec-
tion of schools and churches, and who is
laying the ground work for supplying a na-
tive ministry to a people that had none of
these things before ?

Other people in passing about over the

100 SCENES IN THE

country notice indeed a great dissimilar-
ity in the conduct of the people, as well as
in the appearance of their dwellings and im-
provements, but they notice it only to icon-
der how it happened so ; our missionary
however has often noticed the same, and has
found food for encouragement in it, for he
knows

WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF THIS DIFFERENCE?

Let us turn our horses up this trail, and
call at yonder cabin. We pass a small field,
yet small as it is, more than half of it is un-
tilled, and the corn growing in the remain-
ing part must have been late planted, and is
badly tended. Let us go into the cabin ;
but you must stoop, for the door is low ; a
dirty Indian woman sits inside with slovenly
dress carelessly put on ; she does not rise to
give us a seat. We say, "Good morning;"
she answers with a grunt. We ask, "Are
all well ?" she answers with another grunt.
We look about. There are children with thick,
uncombed, and untrimmed hair ; dirty, and

^v:

-.^

"Who is that girl— her hair so neatly put up- dress clean, and
tidily put on ? "—Page 101.

INDIAN COUNTRY. 101

as ignorant, almost, of religious truth, as the
half-starved and sneaking dogs that are bark-
ing about the door.

We will ride on. By and by we turn up
another trail. We pass large corn fields —
here is a small orchard — a garden — many
cattle near — a covered two-horse wagon in
the yard. But who is that girl — her hair
so neatly put up — dress clean and tidily put
on ? She is attending to the milking of the
cows, and seems to have the care of the milk-
house. We tie our horses and go in ; chairs
are placed for us under the shade of a tree
before the door. Soon that girl comes from
the milk-house, she advances with a pleasing
frankness to shake hands, then goes to the
garden and brings a watermelon, and hands us
knives, that we may eat and refresh our-
selves with this cooling fruit. She seems to
have the care of the family, for her mother
is unwell. But what is the cause of the dif-
ference between this girl and the girls in the
cabin at which we first stopped ?

This girl is a pupil in the Mission boarding-
9*

102 SCENES IN THE

scliool. She is at home now, for it is vaca-
tion. She is a member of the Mission church,
and, we trust, a true disciple.

Is there any encouragement in trying to
elevate the Indian? Is any good accom-
plished by Mission boarding-schools ?

THE CONTRAST.

You see that tall Indian standing by the
side of the path, endeavouring to cover some
parts of his body with the half of the hunt-
ing shirt which still hangs on hira. He has
little friendship towards the missionaries ;
he dislikes the white physicians ; he believes
in conjuration; if his neighbours are sick,
he tries to persuade them to throw away the
white doctor's medicine and send for a
" blower," a medicine man ; he observes all
the ancient Indian ceremonies at the death
of any member of his family. He is in the
gallof bitterness and bonds of iniquity; and
lie desires to remain as he is.

But go with me a short distance. You
notice broad fields of corn on the rich bottom

INDIAN COUNTRY. 103

land at the right; you observe they have
been well tended, and are well fenced. At
the left you see the cow-pens ; here a pen
with thirty calves ; not far off are horses,
and sheep, and cattle; there are corn-cribs
and out-houses. The house is small but
neat, verandahs in front and rear, fruit and
shade trees growing. Now go into the house;
the wife is spinning wool, but politely hands
you a chair. The owner of the establish-
ment is at home, for he is not in good healthy
and had sent for the missionary to converse
with him about the way of salvation. He is
neatly dressed, is polite, and speaks correct
English. Quite a contrast, certainly, you
say, between this and that tall Indian ; yet
they are both Indians] why is the differ-
ence? You ask. Where did this man get
his habits of order, neatness, and thrift? And
more than all. Where did he get so much
correct religious knowledge? Let me tell
you. In his youth he had been in a Mission
boarding-school.

Perhaps the missionaries who had the care

104: SCENES IN THE

of this man when a youth in school, were
quite discouraged in regard to him, seeing
no fruit of their labours ; but they cast bread
upon the waters, and now after many days
it appears; we see it; they, perhaps, have
not, and never may in this world. These
are thoughts which we will lay up; they
may help us when we begin to feel discour-

aged.

ONE THAT HAD NOT BEEN A PUPIL.
On a Sabbath, in midsummer, there was
an appointment for preaching about twelve
miles west of the Mission. It was a very
hot day. The rays of the sun were poured
down upon us, even through our umbrellas,
and fearing a sun-stroke, we frequently
lifted our hats to let fresh air in upon our
heads. The ground too, which had long
been scorched, seemed to be in a humour to
scorch others, and it sent up its steaming
vapours, and radiated heat into our faces.
We dared not urge our horses lest they
might melt, and, as you may suppose, by

INDIAN COUNTKY. 105

the time we arrived at the house where the
meeting was to be, we were pretty tired ; and
when the Indian woman started out to the
trees near by, to pick up some of the fallen
fruit, we began to feel revived, just with the
thought of ripe mellow fruit to wet our
parched throats. Soon the woman returned
with six uncommonly large and rich peaches.
She laid them carefully on the table. Then
went for a knife, and placed it beside the
peaches. Then put a stool up by the side
of the table. And then — then what did she ?
Why, she just sat down on that stool, and
took the knife, and herself devoured those
six peaches without saying a word to any
one, and then arose and walked away with
an air of satisfaction ; leaving it for the hens
and their chickens to dispose of the parings.

We didn't inquire where that woman was
educated : it was not at any of the Mission
schools.

But, in regard to the meeting. When we
arrived, one of the men took down an ox-
horn, (a common piece of furniture in an

106 SCENES IN" THE

Indian's cabin,) and walked out upon a
slight eminence, and away from the trees,
and blew it ; making a noise that might have
been heard for miles around. Scarce any re-
sponded to to it, however, for there was a
"a big meeting" somewhere, and the Indians,
who delight in great gatherings in the woods,
will travel many miles to a camp meeting, or
any " big meeting," passing by the quiet chapel.
We preached, nevertheless, though it was to
but eight souls ; and rode our twelve miles
home again, holding umbrellas over our
heads, except where we passed through por-
tions of the forest.

PREACHING.

On each Sabbath day there was preaching
at the Mission, and an evening meeting
at least once during the week. Sabbath
schools were conducted in adjacent neigh-
bourhoods, where it was practicable, by the
lay brethren. The ministers had stated
meetings at different points in the nation ;
some on the Sabbath, and some on week days.

INDIAN COUNTRY. 107

Of these, some were not so far off but that
we might ride to them on Sabbath morning,
and return in the evening; to other places,
it was necessary to go on Saturday and re-
turn on Monday.

At a few of these out stations, there were
men residing. who were qualified and will-
ing to serve as interpreters. Such a place
was Conchatee, a village several miles to the
west, and on the opposite bank of the river,
where were a few Christian families, in
which a missionary would be cheerfully en-
tertained.

EVENING PREACHING AT CABINS.

Few services were pleasanter than were
those meetings held on a week-day evening,
in an Indian's humble dwelling. Taking
the interpreter, and a few of the larger boys
of the school, in order to secure good sing-
ing ; and taking a candle, (for the people of
the cabin have none,) we walk to the huts,
one, two, or more miles distant. The dull fire,
in the wide fire-place, gives light enough to

108 SCENES IN THE

enable us to see that there are people present,
but not enough to enable us to distinguish
who they are. We light our candle, and in
lieu of a candlestick, we fix it with a pen-
knife to the wall; but the wind coming
in between the logs, and through the
roof, and down the wide chimney, flares it,
so that we take it in our fingers; and under
such circumstances we stand up to read the
hymns and Scripture, and to preach.

Perhaps you can fancy the scene. The
half bent forms of these dusky people, in
this dusky light; men, women, and chil-
dren : the women in gowns, and a faded
handkerchief tied over the head ; the men in
trowsers, and what looks like a farmer's
frock with a belt over it; and the children,
with a shirt, and nothing more: these ar-
ranged, some on stools, two or three on
chairs, some on the bed, others crouching on
their heels; while our school boys stand
together, where they have found a vacant
place. The preacher stands before them,
with a pocket Bible in one hand, and a ra-

INDIAN COUNTRY. 109

pidly wasting tallow candle in the other ;
he speaks one short sentence, or, but a piece
of a long sentence, and waits for the inter-
preter, who stands close beside him, to re-
peat the same in the Muskokee language.

Some of the audience scarcely raise their
eyes from the floor during the entire ser-
vice ; others give us their eye, but now and
then they raise a hand quickly to brush
away a tear. In every such assembly we
may expect to find one or more to whom
the name of Jesus is precious, even as oint-
ment poured forth.

After meeting, we make the best of our
way home ; now along the cattle path, and
amongst the bushes, to the peril of our
clothes ; thankful if our faces escape a
scratching, or our heads a beating against
the trees, when we come into the thick and
darker woods.

NIGHT MEETING AMONG THE NEGROES.

About two miles from the Tallahassa
Mission, was a cluster of cabins occupied by

110 SCENES IN THE

the negroes of a plantation. One of these
cabins was large, and we occasionally held
a meeting in it. The people all seemed
glad to have this privilege, and it may be
that their pleasure was partly on account of
being noticed by the missionaries. When
we preached there, the house would be well
filled with both Indians and negroes, seated
on rough benches, and the great fire-place,
with its bright fire, sent a cheering light
over the audience.

Not far off was an Indian village, where
whiskey was sold, and where disorderly fel-
lows congregated ; and sometimes we were
disturbed by them. Now and then a drunken
band would ride by with shouts and yells.
Occasionally a drunken Indian would surge
against the door, and force it in, and stag-
ger in himself, and reel along towards the
preacher.

Such an occurrence would produce a
commotion ; for an Indian intoxicated is an
object of terror, and especially so to any of
that race which, according to the creed of

INDIAN COUNTRY. Ill

some of the Indians, was intended by the
Great Spirit to use the spade and the hoe.
Much management was required to bring
the Indian to a seat, and to keep him quiet.
By and by he wouhi get dry again, and
leave us unceremoniously; or, he would fall
asleep, and thus we would be rid of his
noise.

Those were pleasant seasons. The simple-
hearted people appeared to drink in the
words that were spoken: it was not like re-
peating a thrice told tale to sluggish ears ;
but it seemed to be received joyfully, like
good news. The historical portions of the
Bible, and parables, they listened to without
ever being tired of them ; and the story of
the cross was not there repeated to people,
all of whose ears were dull, and their hearts
closed.

One of the company with which we wor-
shipped there, and who was attentive and
devout, was a pious old negro woman, fa-
miliarly called Aunt Chloe.

112 SCENES IN THE

AUNT CHLOE.

On the da}^ we were leaving the nation,
as we were on the way to Fort Gibson to
take the boat, we met her; and she says,
** What! goin' away, MasV?" "Yes," we
answered. "What! goin' clear away off'?
goin' back to the States?" "Yes," we re-
sponded again. Then dropping both hands
as suddenly as she had raised them at her
first exclamation, and in a melancholy voice,
she added, " Well then, may the good Lord
be merciful ! but what are us poor ignorant
black folks to do ? Missionaries and teach-
ers comes ; but then missionaries and teach-
ers goes away again, as many as comes, and
there gets no more on 'em after all. Why !
ar'n't ye never coming back to preach to
these ere Indians, and to give us black ones
some of de crumbs now and again?" "No,
aunt Chloe, we don't much expect to come
back again, and well not see one another
any more in this world then ; so, good bye ;
God bless you." " Well then — if ye must

INDIAN COUNTRY. 113

go — when ye gets back to the States, won't
ye tell them good peoples there, to think
about us all, poor ignorant perishing ones
away out here ? and you, sir, please — you
won't never stop praying for me, a poor old
black critter away out west of Arkansaw.
Good bye. Good bye. May the Lord be a
wall of fire about ye — your never failing
help."

THE WHISKEY VILLAGE.

That little cluster of cabins which we have
termed a village, and of which we spoke two
or three pages back, had a bad reputation.
We called it a cluster of cabins, and yet it
was not much of a cluster, nor were they
very near together. There were three or
four that were only a few rods apart ; and
others from a quarter to half a mile distant.

We were accustomed to make frequent
excursions; leaving the Mission in the mor-
ning, and spending the day in visiting from
village to village, and from house to house ;
conversing with families, and preaching

10 »

114 SCENES IN THE

wherever a little congregation could be gath-
ered.

For one of those days' works I had nnap-
ped out the course in my own mind, making
this village the first to be visited ; and when
we were in the saddle and had proceeded a
little on the way, the interpreter inquired
what place we were to make for; and when
told that we would go right down to that
town on our right, he exclaimed, " Ah, sir,
that won't do. It's not far enough past the
holidays yet. Christmas, you know," he
added, "lasts as long as there is any whiskey."
The Indians in that country are rather re*
markable for their observance of Christmas ;
but the most that many know about it seems
to be only that which they have learned from
the loose-living white men that have lived
among them, and who usually distin-
guished the day by their hardest drinking,
and most reckless carousing.

Our interpreter, who was at that time an
elder of the church, and who is now a minis-
ter, did not wish to expose himself to more

INDIAN COUNTRY. 115

insult and abuse than he might be able to
bear. " It might," as he said, " get the In-
dian up, and if he were provoked he might
do something that he would be sorry for."

He was in the habit, you perceive, of pray-
ing, " Lead us not into temptation," and
then endeavouring to practise in accordance
with his prayers.

"THE CHALLENGE.

*' Discretion," somebody has said, " is the
better part of valour," and having the inter-
preter's account of the villagers, and seeing
his aversion to going amongst them, we
passed along on the straight road ; and he
proceeded to give some account of an excit-
ing affair in which he was engaged a few
evenings before. It was just in the dusk of
the evening — a cold evening, the ground
was frozen, the doors were shut, and he and
his little family were huddled around the
fire ; when suddenly a horseman galloped
into the yard, and wheeled before the door ;
and with terrible yells, and awful curses,

116 SCENES IN THE

called out his name, daring him to show
himself outside the door. After hesitating
a few moments, trying to think what he
ought to do, he arose and went out. Then
the drunken Indian assailed him with his
tongue, saying, "So many years ago, you
remember, we were at a ball play. I got mad
at you and tried to kill you ; but you were
then the strongest, and you whipped me. I
have never forgotten it. I mean to kill you
yet, and I have got drunk to-day for this
very purpose. I have come here just now
to fight you, and I shall kill you. Whiskey
makes me strong." The interpreter said that
he felt the Indian in him growing, and get-
ting stronger than the Christian ; and he
was afraid that if he had to hear more of
that fellow's insolence he would get too mad,
and, may-be, strike him ; therefore he kept
his teeth shut tight together so that he
should not say a word, for he knew that
if he would allow himself to begin to scold,
his passions would rise the faster ; but he
walked up to the horse's head, took him by

INDIAN COUNTRY. 117

the bit, led him rapidly out of the yard, and
with a smart blow and a whoop, he sent them
botli galloping down the road ; for the In-
dian had slightly overdone the thing : he
had taken an over-dose of the stuff that such
fellows often take to give them courage ; and
instead of making him strong, it had proved
too strong for him : it had made the strong
man weak.

After relating the circumstance, the inter-
preter asked, "Did I do right? Had I suf-
fered him to remain, very likely he might
have killed some of us. But I don't know
when he may come back again ; or I may
meet him on the road at some time when he
happens to be just strong enough. These
Indians are curious ; for when they get
drunk, they seem to remember all their old
grudges — all the old scores that they haven't
paid off, and at such times they don't care if
they get killed themselves, providing they
can first kill their enemy."

118 SCENES IN THE

DRUNKEN INDIANS.

It is not pleasant to encounter Indians,
when the demon, called up by intemperance,
possesses them.

Once, when riding alone, and in a lonely
place, I heard the discordant whooping
which proceeds only from those who are
greatly excited and thoughtless. Soon,
three tall, lank forms appeared in sight, and
coming on to meet me. They were on foot.
My horse was tall and strong, and had
gradually been getting up a strong and
steady pace that would carry him past any
slight obstruction. They began shouting,
"Who are you? Where you come from ?
Where you going ?" and were closing in
around as if to shake hands ; we reached
out a hand to the nearest one — for it is best
to exhibit confidence in them, and friendli-
ness. Good naturedly we answered all
their questions, and put others to them.
Yery likely they may have been peaceably
enough disposed ; but somehow, many of the

INDIAN COUNTRY. 119

Indians retain the notion that all this country
once belonged to them, and by right should
still be theirs; that the white man robbed them
of it ; that, therefore, all his present wealth
was made from the Indian's lands, and
consequently, the Indian has still a right to
whatever he can get from the white man.
This may account in part for the surliness
with which they receive their annuities from
the Government ; and for the large demands,
and small thanks with which they receive
the missionaries and teachers that come to
labour and suffer for their good : they regard
it, not as a boon, but as a debt.

TRAVELLERS DISTURBED.

Two of the missionaries, one a minister,
the other the steward and farmer, were re-
turning from the Seminole Mission, where
they had been to attend a sacramental meet-
ing: the minister to preach and administer
the ordinances. Where they stopped for
the night, they were refused admittance
into the house, and were only allowed to

120 SCENES IN THE

spread their blankets under the open ahed
in front of the cabin. There they were
sleeping soundly after a hard day's ride.
But in the middle of the night they
were awakened by the yelling of Indians,
and the sound of many horses' feet ap-
proaching nearer and nearer. Presently
the horses stop, and no sound is heard : then
they move again, but only one approaches
the place where our travellers are. He
drew up before the cabin, and in the Indian
language, called out to the people within,
to arise, and bring him instantly a drink of
cold water. But they had barricaded their
doors before going to bed, and they made
no answer whatever to the insolent demand.
The Indian still sat on his pony, on the
other side of the low rail fence, and still
demanding a drink of cold water. The mis-
sionaries remained quiet for a while, till
one of them, thinking that if he should get
Lis drink of water, he would go on his way,
and leave them to their slumbers once more,
arose and went to the spring for it. The

INDIAN COUNTRY. 121

lordly Indian drank, but immediately de-
manded whiskey. "No," says the missionary,
"we have no whiskey," and immediately went
back to his bed again. The Indian insisted
that there was whiskey on the premises,
and he would not go away till he should get
some, and he grew more noisy and abusive.
Now he dismounted, and came over the
fence to where the travellers were lying.
One of them, who was the farmer, arose and
sat on one side of the table that stood by
the wall, and the Indian leaned or sat upon
the other side. "Now," said the Indian, " I
must have some whiskey." The traveller
assured him that they had none, and that it
would be an impossibility to get it.

" Well, then," said the other^ "you have
money, and with that I can help myself to
what I want. White men never travel with-
out money, and I am bound to have some ;
and I will not leave you till I get it."

"You'll never get it from me,"said the tra-
veller, in a slow and steady voice.

Then the Indian began drawing out bis
11

122 SCENES IN THE

knife, and running "his tbumb along its
edge ; and then the farmer also quietly drew
out his big pocket knife, and displayed its
long blade. The Indian was still talking
largely ; but, apparently without seeming to
do it with any particular design, he reached
across the table and felt the white man's
arm, before he ventured to grapple with
him; and he found there a large round mass
of hard muscles. The tone of the Indian's
voice now changed, and, beating as honour-
able a retreat as possible, he left the travel-
lers to sleep till morning.

So, we see, presence of mind and a strong
arm are very convenient, oftentimes.

ITINERATING.

It has been intimated that, whenever we
could command the time, and could have
the services of an interpreter, we were ac-
customed to spend a day in visiting from
village to village, and from house to house,
over a given section of the country. It
would be tedious to relate everything that

INDIAN COUNTRY. 123

might occur in sucli a day's work; and yet,
if we could but lake our readers around
with us ou two or three such excursions,
they would get a more correct view of this
kind of missionary labour, than in any other
way. Suppose you come with us then. It
is a day in the month of December, but not
very cold ; for you must recollect we are in
latitude 36° where the winters are not very
severe. We have quite sudden, and some-
times extreme changes, however ; therefore
we lay a heavy overcoat over the saddle,
for though we do not need it in the morn-
ing, we may before night. The interpreter
is well mounted on his own horse, and we
have Wellington, who has been the favour-
ite of several missionaries, a noble, intelli-
gent, and affectionate creature. We strilie
out N. W., towards what is termed The
Mountain, which is about three miles from
the Mission.

On the opposite side of it is a family, of
which we know but little: they are never
seen at church, therefore we will carry the

124: SCENES IN THE

gospel to them, so that they shall not have
it to say that nobody cared for their souls.
In passing through a stretch of low land, we
worry through tall grass and weeds ; it is
higher than our heads while seated on the
horses' backs.

We reach the house; it is nothing differ-
ent from a great many others in the country.
There is a field, a cow pen, and a small log-
pen, covered with thatch, for a stable. A
small square log-house with one room, co-
vered with long narrow pieces of oak split
thin for shingles, and these not nailed, but
held to their place by heavy poles laid along
the roof. There is not a sawed board about
the premises. The floor is of what are called
puncheons — thick plank split and hewed
tolerably smooth on one side ; seats are
made of the same material. The table was
made with the hatchet, of such boards as
cover the roof, and they are fastened to-
gether with small wooden pegs. The doors
have wooden hinges and a wooden latch.
At the side of the room are holes bored into

INDIAN COUNTRY. 125

the logs, and wooden pins driven into the
holes — on some of the pins are placed split
boards: a few articles of dress hang on the
pins, and a few dishes are set on the shelves.
Over the door, a well kept rifle rests on its
wooden hooks.

They have two guests whose home is away
to the south-west, on the south fork of the
Canadian river ; and they are journeying to
the " Missouri line ;" we did n't ask if they
were going to buy whiskey, though we sus-
pected it might be the case. The guests
were at breakfast. Their fare was salt pork
fried hard, corn cake, a large bowl of pork
gravy instead of butter, sweet potatoes
boiled, and coffee very strong without milk
or sugar.

We make a few remarks and inquiries,
such as are usually heard when neighbours
meet. They answer in monosyllables, but
make no inquiries of us. All is silent, ex-
cept while loe are speaking. We see there
is no such thing as engaging them in a con-
versation on any subject ; so without fur-
11*

126 SCENES IS THE

ther delay we tell them wlio we are, and on
what business we have come all this distance
on purpose to see them.

They know, or pretend to know, scarce
anything at all of the gospel plan of salva-
tion, and the children, a half-dozen of them,
seem altogether ignorant on religious sub-
jects; therefore we undertake to impart as
much instruction as is possible to be given
in half an hour, on points the most needful
for a person to know, if he were not to hear
another sermon before he goes to the judg-
ment.

We ask the children a few questions
on what has been said, sing a Muskokee
hymn, the interpreter leads in prayer, and
we rise to depart, shaking hands all around
again ; and while we stand with one hand
on the door-latch, and the hat in the other,
a short dialogue is spoken, through the in-
terpreter.

" Now Mr. , we shall see you at meet-
ing at the Mission next Sabbath, won't we ?"
" Don't know when that day comes." " It

INDIAN COUNTRY. 127

comes day after to-morrow — you will be there,
won't you?" "Doubtful." " Why not come?"
" Too far." " Its only about three miles."
" Too far." " No, it's not too far, if you may
there be told how to find the way to heaven.
Think of these children. Don't you wish to
have them instructed in the way to worship
God, and to secure immortal life?" He
makes no reply, only mutters something to
himself; and again, and finally we ask, "You
will bring all your family over to the Mission
next Sabbath, won't you? Half-past tea is
the time. Good day."

THE VISION.

The next place we will take you to is the
residence of the Mekko or king of Osichee
town. He is the Mekko No. 2. He has
no seat or vote in the national council, but
has more influence in his own town, and
amongst his own clan, than the Mekko No. 1,
who is a member of the council of the na-
tion. The secret of their preference for one
above the other is, that No. 1 receives pay

128 SCENES IJS" THE

for his services, and No. 2 does not. In the
same way they "take to" ministers and physi-
cians. They have strong prejudices against
a *' hireling priesthood ;" but a fondness for
any ox that will patiently tread out the corn
with the mouth muzzled.

The interpreter expressed fears that we
might not be cordially received should the
Mekko be at home, for he knew him to be a
bitter enemy to Christianity and its reforms;
and stoutly attached to all the old Indian
ceremonies and traditions.

We find two cabins near each other, and
both seem to be occupied. This looks as
if the man had two wives ; and it is not
unlawful, we believe, for a man in this na-
tion to take as many wives as he can sup-
port ; at any rate, polygamy is practised
here to some extent. We go up to one of
the cabins, and knock at the door. A faint
voice bids us come in. The occupant of the
room is a poor sick woman, apparently near
her death ; it is the Mekko's wife. She is
free to converse — says she is glad, very glad

INDIAN COUNTRY. 129

to see us ; she seems hungry for instruction,
and puts away the bed clothes from her ears,
and stretches out her head towards the inter-
preter, so as to catch every word.

She has " an expedience," and seems de-
sirous that we should hear it, and give an
opinion as to whether it is sufficient to base a
hope on. Former!}^ (as she proceeds to re-
late) she had been in the practice of going to
preaching whenever opportunity was afford-
ed ; but she had never felt any special inter-
est in religion, or alarm in respect to her
spiritual condition, till she was taken sick; and
she was very sick and getting worse ; and so
she continued for many weeks, and they told
her she must die.

One day her man was gone to procure
something for her, and there was no person
in the house, and all was still around; when
she heard ( imagined she heard ) the sound
of a great multitude of voices far, far up in
the sky, and they were singing — oh, so beau-
tifully were they singing! faintly at first,
but gradually descending towards the earth,

130 SCENES IN THE

and their music swelling more full and loud
till it seemed to be just at the door, and she
expected the next moment to behold the
glory-clad visitants from heaven ; but then
the singing ceased, and she saw and heard
no more.

From that time she began to think seri-
ously about death, and to wish for that pre-
paration for it which was necessary, what-
ever that preparation might be. She spent
much time in prayer and tried to be good.
Afterwards she recovered ; and for a long
time she attended preaching when there was a
meeting within reach — she sung and prayed,
and endeavoured to do right, and thought
she was succeeding pretty well in pleasing
God, and getting a preparation for death.
But unfortunately, a neighbour woman came
in and talked saucily and provoked her, and
she scolded back; and then her good feelings
left her, and she felt ugly and wicked ; and
after that she did n't strive any more to be
good. But very soon after this she was ta-
ken sick again ; and she had no doubt that

' INDIAN COUNTRY. 131

it was in judgment from God, because sbe
flew into that passion and scolded the
woman, and ceased praying and singing
hymns ; and now she feared she should never
arise from that sick bed again, and she did
not feel at all easy in regard to her prepar-
ation for the next world ; but then — and
this was the straw which the drowning wo-
man was catching at — but then she had heard
(fancied she had heard) that sweet sing-
ing such as mortals could not equal — what
did that mean, she argued, unless it was that
" Hesaketumese" ( God) had taken this meth-
od to give her a sign that he was pleased
with her ?

We told her what we thought of it, that it
was probably a sort of dream — she might
have been half asleep, and half awake. We
told her that she needed a better hope than
that ; she needed to see herself a sinner, and
Christ the Saviour of sinners. We told her,
and endeavoured to explain how it was, that
her prayers and hymns in themselves, and
her trying to be good, had not been helping

132 SCENES IN THE

her on to heaven at all ; for we are so imper-
fect, while God is so holy, and his law so high,
that nothing but the righteousness of Christ
can reach it.

For a longtime we talked to her, shelistened
with almost painful earnestness. We alluded
to the subject of her dream, or her fancy—
the music of the heavenly inhabitants ; and
we told her that none can join in that song
but those who have been taught it by the
Holy Spirit, and she could be taught it:
God was ready to forgive all her sins; Christ
was ready to wash her in his blood ; the
Holy Spirit was ready to sanctify her whol-
ly ; she had only to cry, " God be merciful
to me a sinner ;" but she must do it in all
earnestness, and look nowhere else for help;
and now was the time if ever, for her days
on the earth were few, it was very likely, as
her friends had warned her.

During our conversation other members
of the family had gathered into the room,
and remained eager listeners.

INDIAN COUNTRY. 133

After singing and prayer we pass on.
The woman lived but a day or two; and
whether, when the soul was freed from the
body, angels bore it home to join in their
song, and the song of the redeemed, we will
not know till we also get there, if indeed
that blessedness shall be granted us.

ANOTHER VISION.

When we were on our way again, I said
to the interpreter, "Indians seem to be fa-
voured with more dreams and visions than
other people, don't they ?" " I guess so,"
be said, '* they must imagine these things;
or may-be their eyes are sharper than white
men's. They see ghosts, and witches, and
such like, a great deal easier than you do,
you know.'' And then he proceeded to re-
hearse part of a conversation which he over-
heard the other day, between two old men ;
one an Indian, the other a negro. The old
Indian was boasting that he was never going
to die, at least, not for many years yet.
"IIow do you know that?" asked the negro.

12

134 SCENES IN THE

" Because," responded the other, '' I had a
vision lately, ahd the prophet has inter-
preted it to me as meaning that I shall
never die, or, at any rate, not for a great
while yet." " Well, what was your vision ?"
asked the negro. " Well, it was this," said
the other. " I saw God ; that was the amount
of it." " Saw God ! and how did he look ?"
*' Why he was an old man, with white locks,
a row of great white feathers stood out
across his back, and there was a circle of
fire all around him, and it was very hot, so
that nobody could come near him." " Ha !"
said the negro. " More like it was the devil
you saw ; for the Scriptures say that no
man hath seen God's shape, and no man
could see him and live."

ODDLY CONSTRUCTED VEHICLES.

On our way, we meet a yoke of oxen haul-
ing a primitive kind of wagon. The wheels
are nothing more nor less than sections of a
saw-log — a very short saw-log, say about
four inches long, and two feet in diameter,

INDIAN COUNTRY. 135

with the heart chiselled out, and this runs
on the axle. Soon another carriage is met,
more primitive yet : it is nothing more nor
less than the crotch of a tree, in the shape
of the letter Y, with the sharp end forward
and upright stakes set in to hold the load
on. There are good wagons in the country,
but not very many of the Indians are rich
enough to own one.

JOURNAL CONTINUED.

We approach heavy timber ; and now we
come to a "branch "near to its junction
with the Yerdigris. We have to descend a
steep bank. It is far down to the water,
and is dark on account of the overhanging
trees: the interpreter, however, makes no-
thing of it, and keeps his seat in the saddle,
humming a hymn to himself, while his horse
is carefully trying to hold himself from
plunging headlong down the almost precipi-
tous foot path ; but I was afraid, and dis-
mounted, and led the horse down to the
water's edge, then remounting, we forded,

136 SCENES IN THE

and clambered up the opposite bank. Sooq
we emerge from the thick woods, and come
into the " openings," where are scattering
trees. The earth is covered with grass,
very rank ; the fire has not yet run through
it, but it is dry ; yet near the ground it is
still green — here, and all about over the
country, is space for thousands of farms,
and pasture for such a stock as Job had, and
that many times over. It is a long stretch
now till we come to the Osichee busk house,
and " square :" a desolate country it is to
ride over, and not a habitation in sight ;
not a person do we meet, nor have we any
trail, not even a cattle path. It is past noon
when we arrive at the busk house. We
find here, and in the vicinity, several fami-
lies. The women and children are at home,
but no men are seen. The people seem
poor : they are scantily clad ; some of the
little ones almost naked : the women show
but little taste or ambition to appear well.
Their busk house is a rude affair ; merely
crotches set in the ground, and covered with

INDIAN COUNTRY. 137

poles and bushes. We are not at all cor-
dially received here; the children are rude,
and the women are surly. We begin to
talk with one, and she starts out to pick up
sticks to replenish a feeble fire outside of
the house, over which is a small black pot,
in which, perhaps, is their dinner. They
do not even ask us to a seat. The sun is
very warm now, and we are weary, and begin
too, to feel the want of some refreshment,
but that we will not find till we get home ;
and this cold reception is very dishearten-
ing, and causes us to feel our bodily fatigue
more ; but we ride on, going southerly, then
bending around towards the south-east, on
a trail which will take us home. By and
by we come to a house, in which we find
several people. They are better dressed,
and more polite than some we were last
with. A few rods from the house, we had
stopped to speak with a couple of men who
were putting up a little structure over a
new made grave — a miniature cabin it was.
It was the grave of an Indian that I had seen

12*

138 SCENES IN THE

and conversed with, only three or four days
before, at a gathering where the chiefs were
distributing the annuities just received from
Washington. This man had exposed him-
self; perhaps had slept on the ground, and
without covering, and his camp fire had
gone out ; for it was a cold and rainy time.
He took a violent cold, which seized some
vital part — the pleura, or the lungs, and he
died in a day or two. " The Cold Plague,"
they call it; and many go off in this way.

Some of the neighbours and relatives were
at the house, and we tried to improve the oc-
casion by some timely instruction on the sub-
ject of death; the state after death, the pre-
paration needed, and the consolations those
may have who have lost friends that gave
evidence of having been the friends of God,
and are now taken to dwell for ever with him.
But our conversation did not seem to be
relished by them, and that dampened our
spirits again. " Who hath believed our re-
port?" we say.

The widow of the deceased was there, and

INDIAN COUNTRY. 139

of all the company, she alone refused to
shake hands with us. She had, already, by
her friends, been put into what they call

Which must continue for three years,
though they may reckon the years like as
do some of the Asiatic nations ; not neces-
sarily three whole years, or three times three
hundred and sixty five days ; but there
may be parts of the three years as marked
by the annual revolution of the earth —
there may be in the time during which
they are so " devoted " only a part of the
first and third years, with the whole of the
second.

Some have thought that this may be some-
thing resembling the vow of the Nazarite ;
or like the perpetual virginity or widowhood
of Jephthah's daughter.

During the time of her widowhood, a
woman is appointed to take care of her ; it
may be her mother-in-law, or sister-in-law.
This woman must feed her, comb her hair,

140 SCENES IN THE

and attend her wherever she goes. The
widow may not shake hands with a man
during the time of her widowhood ; for
should she do it the charm is broken, and
she must commence anew. Of course she
may not marry during the time, and when
at length she does marry it must be under
the direction of the relatives of her former
husband, and a person of his clan ; but if no
suitable person can be found in that clan, she
is at liberty to marry as she pleases.

The penalty (according to the statute) for
breaking these rules, is to be beaten by the re-
latives of the deceased husband, and to have
both the ears cut off. AVidowers are like-
wise put under similar restrictions, but the
season of widowhood is shorter — only four
months. The penalties however are the
same.

How the Indians came by these, and many
other customs which bear not a faint resem-
blance to some of the old Levitical rites, we
will not now stop to inquire. But really it
may well awaken a curiosity, and we have

INDIAN COUNTRY. 14.1

a right to wonder if some, at least, of the
aborigines of this continent did not come
around from Asia by Behring's Strait, bring-
ing with them some of the traditions bor-
rowed from the Jews, if indeed they were
not stragglers of the lost Ten Tribes.

But we are detaining you with scraps of
the conversation which we had with the
interpreter on the way home.

When we start again it is with the pur-
pose of going through without any more
stops. The weather has now changed, and
we need that big coat ; it is raining too, and
there's a prospect of a wet, dark night Dis-
regarding the trial, we take a direct course to
the Mission; which however is not always best,
and seldom safe unless you travel by compass,
or with an experienced guide who knows
where to cross the sloughs and the ravines.

As we neared the Mission, the interpreter
turned to me inquiring, *' And what should
a man do when he is coming home?" This
requires that we explain a short conversa-
tion of the morning about

Ii2 SCENES IN THE

SOAKING THE SEED.

We were in sight of the first house on
our outward journey, and were riding slowly
along ; neither of us having spoken for some
minutes, when I broke the silence by asking
the interpreter, "Are you soaking the seed,

Mr. W ?" "Am I what?" said he.

" Are you soaking the seed ?" I repeated.
Then I had to repeat, as nearly as I remem-
bered it, the anecdote respecting the clergy-
man who was lamenting to his brother
clergyman that though he endeavoured to
be faithful and abundant in all his minis-
terial labours, sowing good seed ; yet he
saw no apparent fruits of his work in the
conversion of sinners : and his neighbour
replied, "Do you soa^ your seed, brother?
The ground may be properly prepared, and
the seed may be good^ but do you soak it ?"
By which, as we explained to the inter-
preter, he meant, Do you pray over the
word as you study and preach ? Do you go

INDIAN COUNTRY. 143

forth weeping while you bear the precious
seed ?

And again addressing the interpreter we
added, "By your silence and seriousness,
one might presunne that you were thus
soaking the good seed of the word — pray-
ing for God's blessing on all the work of the
day before us."

He seemed pleased with this new way of
expressing an idea, and of illustrating a
duty with which he was already familiar:
and as appeared, had not forgotten it through
the day ; and after that day's planting was
done, he enquires what else there was to be
done. " When we go out, we must soak the
seed. When we come back, what shall we
do ?" We replied, " How do you treat
your garden ? You plant not only, but you
hoe, and pull up weeds, and kill the insects
and vermin ; if it is a dry time, you yater
the tender plants ; and you keep it well
fenced. Now all this must be done in our
spiritual garden. It is not enough to go
over the ground once; we will have to visit

lii SCENES IN THE

it again and again. We will have to ' get
up early to the vineyards and see if the vine
flourish, whether the tender grape appear,
and the pomegranates bud forth.' "

That man is a preacher now, and we trust
that he does not forget to soak the seed, nor
grow weary in the equally necessary work
of watering the plants.

FOOT PRINTS IN THE ROCK.

On our return we must have come very near
the rocks which have the " foot prints ;" a
broad space of bare rocks, it is, in a low
place too, and water runs over a part of it, and
it is marked all over with tracks of people,
large and small ; but for the ring of your
horse's hoofs you might suppose you were
ridinor over a bed of mud all tracked over.
The Indians have been questioned about it,
but from their various accounts, it is clear
that the present owners of the country know
nothing more about them than we would be
able to conjecture. Some suppose that they
were cut by Indians once living, or roaming

INDIAN" COUNTRY. 145

hereabouts, to warn their friends that there
were enemies near ; and that the bearing of
the tracks indicated the direction in which
the foe was marching. In another place, we
were told, were similar foot marks of deer,
and other game. This they said was prob-
ably made as a sign that such game was in
the neighbourhood. Bather a tedious way
of talking by the impromptu method of signs
it struck us ; but as we had no more plausible
theory to offer, we let it pass. We visited that
locality once in company with a friend, who
had provided himself with chisel and mallet,
and bag. He selected a pair of large moc-
casoned foot prints which were found side
by side ; he cut a channel around them, and
deeper than the foot prints, and then split
off the slab. He contended strongly that it
was a " recent formation ;" others tried to
prove to him that the tracks were cut with
some instrument. However, he boxed up
his specimen, and forwarded it to the Smith-
sonian Institute.

13

146 SCENES TN THE

ANOTHER DAY'S WORK.

Early on the morning of a day in Febru-
ary we started from the Tallahassa Mission
for a day of missionary work in a town ly-
ing in the fork of the Yerdigris and Arkan-
sas river. We rode directly there, that we
might have as much of the day as possible
for visiting the families of the village.

Passing a store kept by a white trader, all
the living thing we saw was the merchant,
with a bland smile, giving the morning sal-
utation to a hard looking, very black, and
very small specimen of an Indian, who had
dismounted from a little black pony, and
who was coming towards the store with a
little black bottle, to get it filled there or
somewhere else with that liquid which leads
to the perpetration of so many black crimes,
and which hurries so many ruined souls to
the place of outer darkness. We paid but
little attention to either of the parties; not
dreaming that we were again that day to en-
counter the same dark trio.

INDIAN COUNTRY. 147

This village bears the name of

TULSEY TOWN.

And there is another place of the same
name, we believe, farther up the country;
but both belong to one clan. The latter
town, as we notice in the last Annual Report,
is an out station of the Kowetah Mission,
and there were several additions to the
Church from these people. We found their
settlement on the rich land of the river
bottom, where the trees grow larger; and to
make a clearing for a farm must have been
a formidable undertaking. These are the
peccan tree, the cottonwood, oaks, and hick-
ory, and a great many others, with their
trailing vines ; and some of these vines had
trunks from four to six inches through.
Along the edges of the forest, and in the
openings, many of the great trees were spot-
ted over with great tufts of green ; this is
the " misletoe bough."

We proceed first to the farthest house in
the settlement, intending if possible to see

MB SCENES IN THE

and have conversation with every individual
to be found in it. At this house they had
just been butchering a beef, and several
men were about. They made no objection
to giving us a little time ; and all gathered
before the door under the thatched shed, and
we had a short religious service. Some of
these people were friends of our Master ;
and they welcomed us to their town, and
thanked us for the words of instruction and
consolation. That was a cheering begin-
ning of our day's labour.

Next we made our way towards a very
little hut. As we drew near, a woman came
out, and attempted to escape into the woods
which were close by. She was a frightfully
squalid creature. We judged that she was
in widowhood, and that those whose business
it should be to attend to her toilet were ne-
glecting their duty ; and that her fear of be-
ing asked to shake hands might account for
her vehement haste to get away from us.
Her hair was hanging in matted bunches ;
the remnants of an old calico dress were

INDIAN COUNTRY. 149

still hanging about her ; a dirty and tattered
shawl or blanket was drawn close over her
head and shoulders.

We wished to arrest her flight, if it were
only for a few moments, just enough to
speak a word or two, which might lead her
to think about her soul, and the importance
of obtaining a preparation for that place
where there is no more widowhood, and
where the days of mourning are ended. To
our morning salutation, she made no an-
swer : to some other inquiries she simply
waved the hand, and would have hurried
into the woods ; but we tried again to arrest
her attention, and we asked if she had ever
heard about Jesus. To this she answered,
"Yes ;" and said that her son had sometimes
been to meeting, and when he came home,
told her what the preacher had said. And
this was the sum of our conversation with
her.

Two small children were playing in the

dirt, near the house ; but it could not make

them anv more dirty than they were.
13-*"

wo SCENES IN THE

In the house where we next stopped, we
found a young man and two women. "We
had no difficulty in introducing the subject
of religion here. They professed to be dis-
ciples of Jesus, and as far as we could judge,
they bore pleasing marks of being disciples
indeed. As we read portions of Scripture^
and 'Commented on them, they listened with
an interest not usually manifested by In-
dians; and in the hymn and prayer they
joined in that manner that warm-hearted
Christians are wont to do. It was pleasant
to sit with them, though it was on a narrow
stool in a little cabin, with no light when
the door was closed, except the few sooty
rays which came down the stick chimney.

The falling tears, and the earnest pressure
of the hand when we parted, was an assur-
ance that our visit was gratefully received.
There is a peculiarly delightful, grateful
feeling, which we would in vain attempt to
describe to any person that had not felt it ;
that feeling which one who has long been
living amongst those who are strangers to

INDIAN COUNTRY. 151

Christ, and who are the enemies to religion,
has, when he meets with a friend of Christ —
a converted pagan, now loving the Saviour
whom he loves, singing the songs which he
sings, able to join with him in the same
prayer, and longing for the same heavenly
inheritance.

We continued in this manner to go from
house to house ; but time wore on, and we
were likely to fall far short of accomplish-
ing our desire of visiting every family ;
therefore, that we might have an opportu-
nity of delivering our message to every in-
habitant of the place, we attempted to gather
all the people in one place and preach to
them. A central position was selected, and
permission obtained of the inmates of the
cabin to hold our meeting before their door.
"We went about circulating the notice, and
requested others to do the same.

While the people were collecting, I went
inside the cabin, and there found a poor
suffering creature — -

152 SCENES IN THE

A SICK WOMAN.

She was lying before the fire-place, ia
which were two half-burnt sticks, and the
smoke, instead of going up the chimney,
was wandering about the room. She had
scarcely any dress, and no other cover-
ing ; and had only two narrow split boards
to keep her emaciated body from the damp
earth ; for the cabin had no floor. She said
that her husband sold whiskey, and drank it
too; that he was absent that day. She
voluntarily confessed, and with the signs of
a troubled conscience, that she had helped
him in the shameful business of obtaining,
secreting, and dealing out the fire-water.

She could talk a little in broken English,
and we had some conversation, which, per-
haps, may have been profitable to her. She
was sensible that her time was short. Her
previous life gave her no satisfaction when
she looked back over it ; the present was
gloomy and troubled, and the future was all
uncertain. In youth, she was giddy, and

INDIAN COUNTRY. 153

spent her time in frolics, and going about
seeking pleasure; when she became a wo-
man, slie was still thoughtless and wicked ;
when thoughts about death and eternity
came into her mind, she hastily drove them
out again. But now, for three or four
months she had been sick, and for much of
the time, had been lying as I saw her, un-
able to cook her husband's victuals, or even
to help herself When he went away, he left
scarce anything for her comfort, and when
he returned, it was to ill-treat her. Her
notions about a future state were much con-
fused ; but she had heard too much of the
Bible and its teachings, and was too well
convinced of its truth, to feel at ease in the
creed of the Indian, viz : that the Great
Spirit, being their father, has a hunting
ground for them, and that he will certainly
take all his red children to it. She desired
to know how to avoid going to the place of
torment ; and as we undertook to explain
to her, in few words, how the sinner may
flee from the wrath to come, and lay hold

154 SCENES IN THE

on eternal life, she turned up her haggard
face, and with her trembling, bony fingers
put aside the uncombed hair, as we told of
Him who came to save sinners, even the
chief — that we have only to feel our need
of him, and to cry, Lord, save or I perish.
We told her of his acts of love and mercy,
while on the earth ; how he healed the sick
and forgave sins ; how the thief on the cross
found pardon. We told her of the mansions
which Jesus had gone to prepare, and if she
was only willing to be his friend, he would,
by and by, come and take her home to him-
self.

But she was afraid she could not understand
all this ; her mind, she said, was dark, and
her heart was hard, and she had been such
a wicked woman; but she felt that there
could be but few more days for her on the
earth, and what must she do? Poor woman !
what indeed could she do ? We prayed
that she might be able to see the whole
truth ; to see that she was lost, and unless
Jesus rescued her she would be lost for ever ;

INDIAN COUNTRY. 155

and we directed her to pray — even as she
lay there on the ground, for Jesus was
present everywhere — to pray to Jesus telling
him that she was poor, and ignorant, and
dull; that she was a sinner, and had no
goodness ; and beg him to have mercy and
help her, forgive her sins, and give her a new
heart. We assured her that if she would
with all her heart offer this prayer, and con-
tinue to offer it, Christ would hear and
answer : for he says, " Him that cometh to
me, I will in no wise cast out."

We felt that it was a great privilege to
be able to point a dying fellow creature to
the Lamb of God that taketh away sin ; and
we earnestly prayed to Him whose gospel is
prepared for the poor, that he would now
look in compassion upon her who was
every way so wretched and miserable ; open-
ing the eyes of her understanding, taking
away her sins, and clothing her in his own
righteousness.

156 SCENES IN THE

**THIS BE INDIAN HUNTING GROUND."

A company of perhaps twenty people had
assembled in the yard, on the leeward side
of the house : there were no men in the
company, but women and children only.
The women with blankets drawn lightly
over their heads, and witli their shy looks ;
the children bare-headed, and bare-footed.

The service was proceeding pleasantly;
we were engaged in reading and explaining
a portion of the word of God ; all was still ;
the audience was attentive, and the door of
the cabin was a-jar so that the sick woman
might hear ; when all at once there was
a nervous movement in the company, as
when the leaves of the forest are stirred by
a single puff of wind. Then all was still
again ; they held their breath ; every head
was inclined, and the open ears, held in a
certain direction: then asimultaneous "hiih;"
and then our own dull ears caught the sound
of an Indian whooping ; and then the clatter-
iog of horses' hoofs coming rapidly down a

INDIAN COUNTRY. 157

path in rear of the cabin, and around tlirough
the gap and into the yard. A frightful ap-
parition ! It was that little black Indian
we had seen near the store in the morning ;
and yet not quite the same person either,
for then he was sober, now he was crazy
drunk. His long and coarse black hair
flew about more wildly ; his skin seemed
blacker, his eyes bigger and more fiery, his
mouth wider, and his teeth sharper than
then. Cursing in bad English, and scolding
in Indian, he plunged into the yard, bounded
from his pony, and came fiercely towards
us, swinging both arms lustily, and crying
out, "This be Indian hunting ground!
What white man doing here ? This be
Indian hunting ground,! say ! What white
man doing here ?" The women drew their
blankets tighter about their heads and scat-
tered ; some behind the cabin, some into the
bushes. The interpreter stood his ground,
but was considerably disconcerted.

I stepped forward — but quite uncertain
as to the result — and offered my hand to the

14

1^8 SCENES IN THE

Indian. He indignantly refused it, and
shouted again — indeed, he screamed^ " This
be Indian hunting ground ; white man no
business here !" " We come as friends,"
said I. " We have no weapons, you see ; we
only wish to teach what is good : if you
are displeased with our being here, we
can go elsewhere. But just let us sit down
and have a little friendly talk about the mat-
ter, so that when we part we may part as
brothers." All this time I was holding out
my hand, and at last took hold of his,
and was gently drawing him towards our
seat. The terms " friend" and " brother" his
ear had caught, and he said, " You my friend!
then you shall drink with me," and at once
he drew out, and presented the bottle. We
declined. He urged. We refused, and said,
"No — whiskey bad, very bad." " Whiskey
bad ? Whiskey bad, eh ?" responded he ;
and then put it to his own mouth and turn-
ed it up, and drained it. " Whiskey good,"
he says. "Ha! ah! — Indian say, Whiskey
good." "No!" said we, "whiskey no good!"

INDIAN COUNTRY. 159

" Whiskey no good ?" he answered, " then
what for white men bring it to the Indian's
country ? White men make it, white men
bring it, and white men sell it to Indian."

"They are not good white men," we an-
swered, " they no love the Indian, they only
love the Indian's money. We love the In-
dian, and we say the laws of the Creek na-
tion to keep whiskey out of the country,
are good laws." " Ah !" said he, " that be
true, whiskey seller no love Indian, but love
Indian's money. But what for you say
whiskey bad ?" " Why, because it makes
the person that drinks it different from him-
self, takes away his senses, makes him un-
kind, sometimes makes him feel like fighting
everybody; and it makes him poor: and
besides, the Bible says that drunkards shall
not inherit the kingdom of God."

By this time he had quieted down con-
siderably, and was seated beside us, my
hand laid on his shoulder, and his hand
on my knee, and we looking pleasantly into
each other's faces. By this time also the

116^ SCENES IN THE

frightened women and children had begun
to come forth from their hiding places, and
to gather around us. The Indian had caught
at my last statement. Said he, " You say, 'No
drunkard can enter the kingdom of God/
Suppose Indian drink whiskey, he not go
to heaven, eh ! But I have been to heaven
already ; it was just the other night. Let
me tell you about it." And now his face
brightened up, and he seemed all changed
from the fierce, frothing, scolding, creature
of a few minutes before.

We listened to his story. He proceeds,
" The other night I was lying on my back,
and looking up into the skies — looking up,
up, up beyond the stars ; and I saw far away
in the blue sky an opening, and within the
chamber all was bright, shining bright. I
wished for some way to get up there, but
could find none. Presently a long — a mighty
long ladder was let down through the trap
door — let down till it touched the ground.
Nobody saw it but me, and I scrambled to
get on it, and climb up. When I had climbed

INDIAN COUNTRY. 161

up there, and looked in, I saw heaps of peo-
ple; oh, such heaps of people ! And I called
out and says, ' Where's your king?' But then
I began to be afraid, and — well I can't tell
you much more about it."

" Oh, my friend," said I, " that was only a
dream ; and when you began to be afraid
you were waking up. But listen while we
tell you something about that place — some-
thing that is not a dream, but solid truth ;
we will read it in God's own word, and you
may depend upon it."

"Ah," said he, " yes, you white men have
the books ; we red men took the bow and
arrow, and so we have to listen to you whea.
we want to learn anything." Then we went
on reading and discoursing about heaven,
and the one only way to get there, the inter-
preter translating it to the audience; the In-
dian interrupting every little while. We
made out quite a discourse ; all the people
listening eagerly.

Then we turned to the Indian, and said,
" And now, wouldn't you like to have us

14*

162 SCENES IN THE

sing about that happy land, far, far away ?"
With some hesitation he assented. After
singing, we again asked, " And now, would
you like to have prayer offered for us all, that
we may be made meet for that place of pur-
ity and bliss ?" He hesitated; but we waited
for his answer. At length he complied, and
arose with us in prayer. After prayer we
shook hands around ; then, taking the In-
dian's hand the second time, we said, "You
would like to have us come again, wouldn't
you ? Shall we set a time ?" He did not an-
swer, and we repeated the question. Final-
ly he said, "Yes, come;" but, still he wished
us to bear in mind that all that country was
the Indian's hunting ground, and that the
white men were there only by permission,
and whenever the Indians pleased they could
expel them.

During the conversation he betrayed that
feeling which is common with many of the
older people of the nation in opposition to
Christianity — a jealousy in respect to the in-
fluence of the schools, and the preaching of

INDIAN COUNTRY. 163

the gospel, lest it might at length subvert
their owq religion and customs. They
could see already that a change had com-
menced, and was going on. In some of the
clans it was becoming difTicultto keep up their
feasts, and heathen ceremonies; the old peo-
ple, or some of them, might still get toge-
ther, but there were not enough of the young
people to carry on the games ; and such was
the case in this same Tulsey-town. Their
busk house was going to ruins ; the danc-
ing ground was grown over with weeds, and
the pole that stood in the centre was fallen
down.

THE COMMONS.

The inhabitants of this town have a com-
mon field. Each family is expected to do
its share of fencing, ploughing, planting, and
tending. Each family has its own crib, and
these cribs are scattered about over the
field.

The bottom land on which the village and
field are situated is subject to overflow; and

164 SCENES IN THE

it sometimes occurs that the inhabitants are
driven from their houses, and their crops
destroyed.

These facts we learned by observation, and
in conversation with the interpreter, as we
were passing out of the town ; for the day
was drawing towards a close, and it was ne-
cessary for us to hasten home; and for our
health we ought to have started earlier. On
the way we met a few persons, and had a
few moments' conversation with them. One
of these, a negro, told us of the preaching
they had in a cabin in the woods, by a co-
loured man. For himself he hoped he was
" travelling towards Canaan."

THE POOR LONE WIDOW.

Farther on we saw an old log hut off from
the road. We turned aside to it. A well
cultivated garden was near it. The dirt
and sticks were carefully swept away from
the door. An elderly negro woman came to
the door as we rode up. She was plainly
dressed, but very clean : a number of small

INDIAN COUNTRY. 165

black cliildren followed her. She seemed
to be visiting there, and was taking care of
the little ones while their parents were away
at work.

Without alighting, we began talking at
once on the great concern, and found her ready
to converse with us. We asked, " Do you
love to hear the Scriptures read?" "The
what, sar? I guess we never heard of
them." "Well, the Bible, you love the Bi-
ble, don't you ?" " The Bible! 0 yes, now I
understand ; sartin me love de Bible ; but
me can't read, mas'r.

" You love to pray too, don't you ?" " Oh
yes, yes; me love prayer: I don't know
what a poor soul like me could do without
prayer — so many troubles as comes on me
— my children all scatter from me ; some to
Texas, some down river, and some I don't
know where ; and I can't find none on 'em any
more. Oh, me's a poor widder — a poor lone
critter in this worl' any how ; may the good
Lord be merciful : for there's no hope on
anything in dis worl'." While she was

166 SCENES IN THE

saying this, the tears were streaming faster
and faster down her sable cheeks. It was a
satisfaction to be able to speak to her about
the widow's God, who says, " Leave thy fa-
therless children, I will preserve them alive;
and let thy widows trust in me."

We will not soon forget how heartily, and
over again, she thanked us for condescending
to talk to one poor old black woman, all
friendless and alone in the world : and we
will not forget that scene ; the good woman
wiping the fast falling tears on her check
apron, and speaking alternately of the sor-
rows of this life and the joys of the next ;
bewailing the afflictions which seemed to
have crowded upon her as one born unto
trouble, and expressing her fears lest her
future state might be worse than this. She
said, " Many times me thinks I's on the
right road ; and many times me's afeard I's
got astray agin. Oh, may de Lord be
merciful — that's all my hope."

I intimated that we had not started home-
ward early enough. This was apparent

INDIAN COUNTRY. 167

on the following day. A rough trotting
pony, too much talking, sitting too much in
the open air with a damp and chilly South-
east wind blowing on me, brought on, or
hastened another attack of chill and fever,
more violent. than anything I had ever ex-
perienced before.

DISCUSSION WITH A MEKKO.

This was a morning in the beginning of
winter, white frost lay about upon every-
thing, but a warm sun was beginning to
climb up the eastern sky when we started,
with the African interpreter, for a day of
visiting in the neighborhood of the Kowetah
Busk House. There was quite a settlement
here ; it was within convenient distance of the
Mission, and we longed for the privilege
of preaching there statedly ; but hitherto
every effort of the kind had been repulsed.

We rode directly to the house of the
Mekko, or town chief, thinking there might
be a bare possibility of getting into his
favourable regards. He seemed to have some

168 SCENES IN THE

of the good things of this world around
him ; large corn fields, and cattle pens. He
had a tolerably comfortable log house with
a porch along in front, and he was at work
upon another : they were " daubing " it ;
that is, they were gathering handfulls of
mud, which was prepared in a pit near by,
and with force they were throwing it into
the chinks between the logs, then smoothing
it with the hands instead of a trowel. In
the same way were they plastering the
chimney, which, with the fireplace, was all
outside of the house : the fireplace was of
logs : the upper part of the chimney of
sticks : the whole was thickly daubed with-
in and without.

We began with conversation on general
subjects, and he was sociable, still keeping
at his work. He could not speak or under-
stand English, therefore our conversation
was all through the interpreter. We talked
on ; but still found no place for an easy
transition to religious discourse, and so we
said right out, " This would be a pleasant

INDIAN COUNTRY. 169

place to liave preaching: wouldn't you like
to have meeting here, or somewhere in the
neighbourhood occasionally on the Sabbath
or on a week day evening?" This roused
him. He threw down the mud which he
had just taken in his hands, and turned and
looked upon us, especially eyeing the in-
terpreter who quailed before his steady gaze,
and he said, " While we were yet in Georgia,
and the government agents were trying to
get us away, they told us that if we remained
there, the whiles would settle all around us,
and would crowd in amongst us, and by
little and little they would teach our people
their customs and their laws, and ours
would gradually go from us. But, go west,
said they, — far away beyond the settlements,
and you may be by yourselves always,
without any fear of intrusion : and we be-
lieved their talk, and came west, even away
here west of Arkansaw, and now you are
on after us again."

" No, sir," we said, " we are not on after
you to interfere with any of your rights and

15

170 SCENES TN THE

privileges as a nation, nor to interfere in
any of your political affairs. As teachers in
the schools, we serve the people ; the schools
are open every day for the inspection of any
person in the nation ; and frequently the
Chiefs, or the Trustees whom they have ap-
pointed, are called together to examine into
all its operations, and they assure us they
are perfectly well satisfied, and glad too,
to have us continue in the work. As
preachers, we are the humble servants of
our Master, and in whatever part of the
world we may be, we are bound to be
faithful to him ; and he requires us to pub-
lish his gospel to all people, exhorting men
to repent, to cease to do evil and learn to do
well. .Jesus, when on the earth, did not in-
terfere with the strictly political affairs of
the nations ; his apostles did not, and his
ministers now ought not. We have enough
to do to keep at our proper work of preach-
ing the gospel, and in this we harm nobody, but
benefit everybody; for the gospel is designed
for all, and to all it is a message of peace

INDIAN COUNTRY. 171

and good will." "Ah, but," says he, ''our
customs, our busks, dancing, ball-plays,
races, drinking, card-playing, and such things;
if you come here to preach, will you preach
that they are all right? or will you even
promise to say nothing at all about them,
one way or the other ?" We answered that
if we preach we must follow the Bible, and
whatever sins it denounced we must also de-
nounce ; and so far as any practices are con-
trary to God's commandments we must, of
course, expose them, and exhort the people
to forsake them. There are some things which
are wrong in themselves, and at any time ;
and some things may be done on a week day,
but not on the Sabbath. All games on the
Sabbath are wrong, and some things in some
of them are wicked at any time. It is never
right to get drunk. " Ah, that is it," said
he. " We like all these things ; our fathers
taught them to us, and the Great Spirit taught
the same to them. We are bound to per-
petuate them, and we loish to perpetuate

172 SCENES IN THE

tliem; indeed we like them, and we mean to
practise them."

Then again he asked specifically, " You
will preach against liquor, will you ? And
do you say that it is a sin to drink whis-
key ?" *' We say that it is wicked to get
drunk," we answered, " and it is wrong to
use any stimulant to such a degree as to be-
come unnaturally excited. It is wrong to
entice others to drink ; it is dangerous to
cultivate a taste for strong drink; and any
person that is too fond of it, and is liable to
become intoxicated by it, had better never
touch it at all ; and in fact, as it very rarely
does any good whatever, but generally does
a great deal of harm, the safest and best way
is not to touch it at all."

" Well," said he, " I love whiskey; and I
mean to drink it : and I love to get drunk ;
and I intend to get drunk whenever I can
afford it, and find it convenient." "Well,
sir," I answered, " as your friend, I am
bound to tell you what I believe is true."
*' Well, and what is it?" " Why with that

INDIAN COUNTRY. 173

determination you will not expect to go to
heaven, I suppose; for the Bible says that
* no drunkard shall inherit the kingdom of
God.' " " But," he rcvsponded, " how do you
know that there is any such place as hea-
ven ? lias any body been up there, and come
down again to tell it ?" We replied that
Jesus Christ the Son of God came down
from heaven to teach us about it, and that
God in both the Old and New Testament
had instructed mankind very plainly in re-
spect to heaven, and the way to secure an
eternal rest there. And now he asked, "And
how do you know there ever was such a per-
son as Jesus Christ ? Did you ever see
him ?"

"No, I never saw him; nor did I ever
see General Washington, nor General Jack-
son, nor was I ever in Georgia. But I be-
lieve there is such a state as Georgia, because
the geographies and histories speak of them ;
and there are many incidental allusions to
it in books and newspapers, and I have seen
people that profess to have lived in Georgia.

15*

174 SCENES IN THE

I believe there were such men as Washing-
ton and Jackson, though I never saw them ;
for there were men who did see them, and
we have their testimon}^ ; history records
their deeds ; we have the letters they wrote,
and the speeches they made ; in books and
newspapers there are innumerable allusions
to them ; and any person that should rise
up now and say there never was such a man
as Washington or Jackson, would be taken
for a fool or a madman. Now precisely
such testimony have we that there was such
a person as Jesus Christ, and that what the
New Testament says of him is true ; and
it testifies that he performed miracles,
and that those miracles were to prove that
he was the Son of God, and came down from
heaven."

" Well," said he, " I can't read, and I don't
know anything about the Bible, but some
of your own white men tell me that it's only
a ' pack of lies.' " " Yes," I replied, " I know
there are some who say it, and that is ano-
ther evidence that the Bible is true, for it

INDIAN COUNTRY. 175

tells us that there will be scoffers ; and it
tells us that there will be those that deny
the truth, and even say that there is no God;
it says that before conversion all people dis-
like holiness, and hate the light ; and you
see that we find that it is just so. If there
were no scoflfers, the Bible wouldn't have spo-
ken truly. And now, sir, can you tell us
why it is that wicked men dislike the Bible
so ; and only the Bible? Why do they not
make war upon other books?" To this he
made no reply, but after studying a minute
he asked, " Well then, are there two Gods,
or are there different Bibles?" "No, but
one God, and but one Bible," we replied.
" Then how is it," he inquired ; " how is it
that there are so many different kinds of
Christians, such as Baptists, Methodists, and
Presbyterians? Why do you differ, why are
you not just alike, if you have but the one
book to go by ?" " We answered him, that
all the Christian sects that we regard as the
Church of Christ, hold the main doctrines of
the Bible in the same way ; they disagree in

178 SCENES IN THE

whom we had the discussion in the morning.
It stood alone amidst the rank grass and
scattered trees of the oak openings. No
fields were near, nor even a cow pen. A
pony was tied to a tree, saddled and bridled
rather gaily ; and his master stood by his
cabin door, dressed in pants and calico shirt,
ditto hunting shirt which had a broad collar
or cape, and fringed all around with red ;
a patent leather belt with brass buckle ; a
palm leaf hat over his shining black locks,
which had just been wet and combed, hung
about his shoulders ; and spurs, with long
gaffs, strapped to his heels.

Seeing him ready to start for some gather-
ing over the river, as he said, we did not
alight, but after the usual salutation told him
what was the especial business we were out
upon that day ; and that we were unwilling
to pass by any one without at least one
word, and we hoped he would not take it
unkindly, nor think us meddling with what
was not our business, if we inquired what
were his religious sentiments.

INDIAN COUNTRY. 179

He understood wlio we were, and wishing
to dismiss at once an unpleasant subject,
with a tone of impatience and a countenance
charged with somewhat of bitterness, he an-
swered, " When we left the old country it
was with the assurance that if we would
come to the new reservation, we should
never be interfered with in any way, but
that we should have our laws, and our
ancient customs."

When he had proceeded thus far, we in-
formed him that we had been over the whole
of that ground in the morning with his
father-in-law, and neither of us seemed to
have time to discuss the subject thoroughly
that day, and we would not hinder him if
he was anxious to be upon the road, further
than to ask if he thoug^ht that he was also
travelling the road which leads to heaven.
To this he promptly replied, "You teach
that in order to get to heaven a person must
leave off every sin." "Yes," we said, "we are
commanded to forsake all unrighteousness.
God is displeased with any neglect of his

180 SCENES IN THE

commandments, and his commandments are
all good, and his law forbids even sinful
thoughts, and evil desires ; and that person
who is unwilling to give up his sins, even
all of them, does not please God ; he show^
that he loves his sins more than he loves
God, and of course he cannot go to heaven ;
for God will not permit to dwell with him
for ever, any that he is not pleased with ;
and no person that still loves sin would feel
comfortable in heaven, for there can be no
sin there.

"Then," he replied, "I can't keep any
sin, you say, not the little ones ? I must
turn short about, and reform in every re-
spect, must I ?" " Yes," we said, " the terms
of the Scriptures are, Eepent or perish,
Turn or die. Turn ye, turn ye, for why
will ye die?" " Well," he continued, "ac-
cording to your reasoning, and according to
what I have heard from other preachers, the
little sins seem to be as much in the way of
a person's getting to heaven as the big ones ;
and one sin will send him to hell as surely

INDIAN COUNTRT. 181

as a hundred could. As for myself, there
are some customs wbich your kind of people
say are wrong, but which I like, and I
don't intend to give them up ; and if I must
be sent to hell for even a few sins, why then,
for ought I see, I might as well take a full
swing in all of them and enjoy myself as
much as possible ; for with one sin I would
be sent to hell, and with ten thousand sins
I couldn't any more than go there." "Not
quite right," we answered ; " for a man may
be treasuring up wrath against the day of
wrath : the greater the guilt, the greater the
condemnation : at the judgment every one
shall receive the things done in the body,
according to that he hath done : the servant
that knew not his lord's will, yet committed
things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with
few ; while he that knew, and did not, shall
be beaten with many stripes. You seem to
know what you ought to do, but are deter-
mined not to do it. You say you like sin ;
and certain sinful courses you say you
are resolved to continue in. You doubt-

16

182 SCENES IN THE

less suppose that there is no enjoyment
in religion, but we can assure you that
if you were to become a Christian you
would then hate sin as much as you now
love it, and you would find more pleasure
in religious exercises than you have ever
found in the pleasures of the world." He
responded, " There are some practices which
to me do not seem very bad, but which you
say must be abandoned if one would get to
heaven ; but I like them, and I intend to con-
tinue in them ; and as I must go to hell any
way, unless I leave off' every thing that is
bad, why I may just as well enjoy myself
the best I can." " Well," we said, " if you
have deliberately made up your mind to
continue in your present manner of life,
which in some respects you yourself have
acknowledged to be wrong, then so it must
be. We have only to tell you what God's
law requires, and how men may escape the
wrath of God which is due to us for sin, and
entreat men to be reconciled to God. It is
for us only to say, Choose ye whom ye will

INDIAN COUNTRY, 183

serve, and it is left for them to do the choos-
iag. We do not compel you, and God
does not compel any person to become a
Christian against his will. We have only to
say : This is the strait and narrow path
which leads to life, and that is the broad
road which leads to death. You, as you
say, have chosen the broad road ; and you
know whither it leads, and you have your
eyes open. Go on, then : you will soon
come to the end of your earthly journey,
and will find yourself where he that hath
served the devil will receive his wages —
the wages of sin is death. *Wo unto the
wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the re-
ward of his hands shall be given him.' Per-
haps you have heard what the Bible says
about a certain rich man who in his life-
time received all his good things, and in
hell lifted up his eyes, being in torment.
Good bye."

Before we had finished this short conver-
sation he was beginning to look very seri-
ous ; his eyes were riveted on the ground,

184 SCENES IN THE

and in that posture he was standing, still
leaning against the door-post until we were
out of sight. I never saw him afterwards.

RETURNING HOME.

We were moving homewards ; and when
we had passed the boundaries of this neigh-
bourhood, the interpreter, who had not felt
really comfortable during all the day, now
began to breathe more freely, and to sit eas-
ier in his saddle. He had been running the
gauntlet, almost, as he seemed to think, and
now was feeling comparatively safe when he
found himself beyond the enemies' border.
Turning to him, I said, "So, this will have
to do for this time." "For this time!" says
he. " And what shall we have to do for the
next time?" "Why," we answered, "we
will have to go over the ground again, of
course. You do not get a crop of corn by
travelling over the ground just once, do
you ? You grub it, then break it, then
plough and plant it ; and how many times
do you have to harrow and plough the field

INDIAN COUNTRY. 185

agaia while the corn is growing. And still
again, if you are a good farmer, you go through
the field, pulling up every cockle, burr, and
every other weed ; and you wouldn't expect
a spiritual harvest without labour in some
measure corresponding with this, would
you?

" Well, I warn you, sir," he said, " I warn
you that we will have these peoples all down
upon us. These peoples about here are
mighty rough when you get them up once ;
and they be amazing prejudiced against reli-
gion, for they say it will put a stop to all
their frolics as soon as a majority of them
becomes religious. I will tell you, sir, how

they were mighty nigh to finishing Mr.

who was here- before you came; and he went
on to describe

And became quite eloquent, as the remem-
brance of the event, our present proximity
to the place of the action, and the occurrences

of this day all tended to revive in him that
16*

186 SCENES IN THE

former feeling of alarm, and caused him to
reflect how narrowly he then escaped.

Said he, " We were riding home on a Sab-
bath afternoon, for we had been to preaching
away up the country ; and as we were pass-
ing the square back yonder at the Busk-
house, a parcel of fellows who were gathered
there, and pretty smartly drunk, began yell-
ing at and scolding us as soon as we came in
sight, and while we were going by. They
said, * What business you to come to In-
dians'country to preach your notions? What
business you to meddle with our sports ?
What is it your concern how much whiskey
we drink, or what games we have, or how
we spend the Sunday ? We'll teach you —
we'll run you out of the country. Go and
preach to white men ; teach them to stop
cheating, and drinking, and card playing, be-
fore you come to reform the Indians.' And
when we had got well on past them, one of
the crowd picked up a club and raced after
us on his pony, yelling and cursing, and
rushed up to Mr. , and caught his bridle

INDIAN COUNTRY. 187

rein, and began to strike at him. Then I
rode around and caught his pony by the bit,

and Mr. improved his chance, and put

the whip to his horse, and I saw no more of
him till I got home. But then the fellow
made at me, as though he would knock my
brains out ; but somehow I knocked the
club out of his hand, and while he was get-
ting off to pick it up, I got away, and run
for my life. And, sir, I don't like that sort
of sport. I'm afraid of these peoples, sir.
They know how to be mighty unpleasant if
once they take a dislike to a man ; they can
make his life very uncomfortable if they set
out for it." "But," we replied, " don't you
think the gospel can soften them? At any
rate, hadn't we better give the field a thor-
ough trial before we abandon it? There are
none here so terrible as was Africaner, of
whom we told you the other night at the
monthly concert." " Ah sir," said he, " but
it seems to me we have done our duty when
we have once offered to them the waters of
life, and they so positively turn to their bro-

188 SCENES IN THE

ken cisterns that can hold no water; and be-
sides, this is not the first time they have been
asked to the gospel feast, and it seems to me

that after treating Mr. as they did, and

after answering us as they did to-day, it is
time to shake ofif the dust of our feet against
them."

WHERE OTHER INDIANS GO.

With some of the Indians there appears
to be a belief that the red men and the
whites will have separate places assigned
them after death; therefore not unfrequently
when we ask a person where he expects to
go when he dies, he will answer, quite un-
concernedly, "Oh, where other Indians go, I
suppose."

We one day received this answer at two
or three houses in succession. At one there
was a mother with several children around
her. She appeared as unconcerned for her-
self, or for the spiritual interests of her chil-
dren as it was possible for a person to be.

She reckoned they would be about as well

INDIAN COUNTRY. 189

off in the next world as most Indians ; they
would be found in the biggest crowd at any
rate. Two neighbouring women that were
present exhibited the same ignorance on re-
ligious subjects, and utter indifference about
the soul and its concerns.

At another house was a tall gray-headed
Indian — an old warrior. We said to him,
"You have seen a good many summers;
about how many do you think?" "I don't
know ;" he answered. " What ! don't know
how old you are?" "No." " Well, you must
be pretty near the end of your journey, ac-
cording to the common age of man ; and
have you made all ready for leaving this
world, and going to the other?" "That's
not a matter that troubles me at all," he an-
swered. " But you have some ideas about
another state of being, haven't you ? Where
do you expect to go ? or what do you sup-
pose becomes of the spirit after death ?"

" Oh," he said, " Tl] go where other In-
dians do, I guess."

There were in the Kowetah school *.wo

190 SCENES IN 'THE

little Indian boys, brothers, very nearly of
a size. They kept by themselves a good
deal ; their progress in learning to speak
English was slow ; their Bible and Cate-
chism lessons were not learned very thor-
oughly. The duty of secret prayer was
enjoined on all the children ; and some of
the pupils, we have reason to believe, prac-
tised it ; and a few there were that loved to
pray in secret to our Father in heaven. But
those two boys would never do it ; and once
they gave their reasons to one of the other
boys for not praying as the teachers instruct-
ed them. They said that their parents had
strictly charged them not to worship the
white man's God, for none of their relatives
Lad gone to the white man's heaven ; and
unless they wished to be separated from
their parents and kindred after death they
should not learn the white man's religion,
Dor pray to the white man's God.

INDIAN COUNTRY. 191

DIFFERENT DEGREES OF CIVILIZATION.

You have doubtless remarked that there
must be a great variety of character to be
met with in that tribe of Indians, and a wide
difference between individuals as to the de-
gree of civilization to which they have ad-
vanced.

THE GENTLEMAN.

Here, for example, was a man very gentle-
manly in his appearance every way, in dress
and in manners ; a man of education and in-
telligence. He has often been to Washington
on business for his nation. You may see
him, a portly figure, on his stately horse,
moving along majestically slow; never in
that break-neck gallop of the wild Indians.
He is the friend of Missions, attends reli-
gious meetings, is the patron of the schools,
and always present at the examinations, and
meetings of the Board of Trustees. ( There
is considerable Scotch blood running in his
veins, they say.) His early education was

192 SCENES IN THE

attended to, his father having employed for
him and for his brother, a private tutor; and
thus he did for him, and for the Creek nation
through him, an invaluable service — just
what you who support the Mission schools
amongst the Indians are now doing. That
father prepared one man for usefulness; and
see what he has done, and is still doing for
the benefit of his people, in encouraging re-
ligion, education, good morals, and general
improvement ; but you are raising up scores
of such who year after year are taking their
places in several tribes; and being scattered
about here and there, their influence, like
leaven, will in time leaven the whole lump.

ONE OF. A CLASS OPPOSED TO CIVILIZATION.

We have given an example of one class ;
let us bring forward one of another kind,
that tall, broad shouldered, heavy limbed In-
dian ; he is all Indian. In summer his dress
is a shirt — a shirt, and nothing more ; ex-
cept a hat sometimes. In winter he adds
the buck-skin leggins, fitting tight — as tight

INDIAN COUNTRY. 193

as the skin ; with buck-skin moccasons,
and a hunting shirt of some sort ; and, when
it is very cold, a red blanket, which serves
both for hood and shawl.

He owns a little cabin, and one pony. He
cannot talk English, and wouldn't learn it
if he could. He communicates by signs; as,
for example, he wishes to take a ride : but
his pony, not being conscious of his master's
plans, is out somewhere on the unfenced
prairie, or somewhere in the thicket. Our
Indian is in a hurry this time, or he wouldn't
condescend to ask a pale face if he had seen
his horse. And how does he ask? Why, with
one hand he holds up and shakes a bridle ;
this signifies he wants a horse's head to put
in it. Next he wishes you to understand
that tlie horse wore a bell about his neck;
so he puts his clenched fist under his own
chin, and moving it quickly to and fro says,
" ting-a ling." If we have seen such a horse
we throw out the arm in the direction to-
wards which his head was turned when we saw
him ; if not, then we simply shake the head.

17

194 SCENES IN THE

THE BLOWERS.

This Indian's wife was taken sick, but he
would not call the white physician, nor send
to the Mission for medicines. He calls a
" blower," that is, a native doctor ; or per-
haps a conjuror. A large kettle of roots and
herbs is selected according to prescription,
and boiled together ; but it has no efficacy
till the breath of the blower has been infused
into it.

Perhaps he is called to the house, or per-
haps the liquid is prepared and taken away
to the blower, and it may be ten or fifteen
miles distant. He takes a reed two or three
feet long, and blows through it into the med-
icine, and perhaps performs some other con-
juration over it. Then the vessel is covered
over tightly, lest the virtue should escape
on the way home. This is given to the pa-
tient in large doses ; she dies nevertheless.
The corpse is kept till it can be kept no
longer. Then it is put in the grave, and
with it are buried the clothes, and a few ar-

INDIAN COUNTRY. 195

tides of common use to serve ber in the
spirit land, or on the way thither. Over
the grave he erects a hut. By the side of
this very little hut he keeps a fire burning
constantly for a number of days, lest the
spirit of the deceased might suffer from cold
during the time it is is still lingering here, or
fluttering between these hunting grounds,
and those far away where the Great Spirit
dwells ; and lest she should suffer with hun-
ger, food is placed beside the grave.

DIFFERENT MODES OF BURIAL.

Many bury as we do, with a coffin, and a
head stone, or board for want of a stone
tablet. Some, more wealthy, erect a tomb
of masonry over the grave. Many form a
low roof of boards over the grave. Some
place the body in a hollow tree in a stand-
ing posture, and close the aperture : and
some lay the body on a platform elevated on
poles. There are some of the old class of
Indians who bury the dead, if it be one of
the heads of the family, in the ground withia

196 SCENES IN THE

their own cabin ; then go away and construct
a new dwelling for themselves, and shut up
the old one. This will account for the
deserted cabins that you now and then ob-
serve, and which are going to decay, the
weeds and bushes covering and almost con-
cealing them, and the paths which led to
them no more trodden. To others a new
grave and a new house is given. In the ab-
sence of a coffin the corpse is wrapped in a
blanket. Ornaments and implements of
war were formerly buried with the war-
rior ; and the same custom still prevails
with some. Some have told us of funerals
which they remember, at which a favourite
horse, and a favourite slave were killed, and
sent along with their master on his journey
to the country to which Indians were sup-
posed to go.

There are many isolated graves, and some
congregations of the dead ; and these are
places possessing some scenic beauty, but
are especially remarkable for their solitude.

INDIAN COUNTRY. 197

DIFFUSIVE INFLUENCE OF RELIGION AND
KNOWLEDGE.

We have compared two men of a particular
nation to show you what education and
religion have done for those who were
disposed to avail themselves of its elevating
and refining influences. But we ought still
further to say that there is not a person in
the nation that has not to some extent been
wrought upon by the influence exerted by
Christianity and the schools, however much
he may hate and talk against them. He
has been greatly improved. This you ob-
serve in his habitation, dress, food ; in his
settled habits instead of being a rover with-
out a home, and you see it in the laws of the
nation. To be aware of the change noise-
lessly and imperceptibly going on in a tribe
where missionaries and teachers have been
for some time at work, compare them with
those that never had missionaries amongst
them. Select the least cultivated specimen
of the Creek nation, and put him beside one

17 *

198 SCENES IN THE

of those bands of savages that now and then
come on begging excursions amongst their
brethren. The Creeks would be at no loss
to find their man though he should become
mixed up with the savages, and he himself
would be ashamed of them. He has clothing
more nearly approximating to what the
whites wear than they ; he has more property
than they ; he has some kind of a home,
they have only camping grounds ; he can
tell them a great deal that they had no con-
ception of, and all at once he finds himself
growing proud, and boasting of the know-
ledge which has been learned from the
people that possess the books. We look at
him amongst the savages and we fancy (and
it's not all fancy) that he looks better, that
his appearance, the expression of his eye
and of his lip, indicate some culture of the
intellect more than any of the savages ex-
hibit. But this is a man who has lived on
the outskirts of his tribe, and has kept him-
self as much as possible aloof from churches

INDIAN COUNTRY. 199

and schools; and yet you see that their in-
fluence has reached him.

A pebble cast into a lake produces a com-
motion in the entire body of water. One
drop influences its neighbour. One particle
set in motion disturbs the particles lying
next it. First there is a ripple, then another,
then another ; each circle taking a greater
width and circumference.

So whenever you cast a pebble of know-
ledge into the minds of any nation, the
waves of its influence will multiply and en-
large till every individual, in some measure,
feels its force.

MINGLED EACES.

The character presented awhile ago, as an
example of the better class of the men of
this tribe, we intimated, had the blood of the
whites in his veins. From this we would
not have you infer that those with this
mixture were sure to be more friendly to
improvement, or that they were themselves
more susceptible of improvement than the

SOO SCENES IN THE

pure red man. Good and bad, intelligent
and stupid, moral and vicious white men
have intermarried with the Indian, and ac-
cording to their character so has been the
impression that they have made upon their
neighbourhood ; and in their children have
been repeated the parents' character and
habits.

The Indians that have lived in the south-
ern states have become more or less mixed
with the negro race ; and those who form
this element, are fully equal in sprightliness,
enterprise, and energy to any of the pure
race.

That you may make your own observa-
tions on this and other matters, suppose
you come with us while we travel a little
about the country.

A request has been sent to the Mission
from a white man, begging us to visit him,
for he is sick, and he wishes us to come
soon.

As we ride along you inquire. How hap-
pens it that white men get mixed up with

INDIAN COUNTRY. 201

the Indians? And we answer, They have
found their way here from different causes.
Some of them are discharged soldiers, whose
ties to kindred and home have been much
worn, if not entirely broken off; and they
would about as lief marry an Indian woman
and settle in the country, as to go back to
the States where the people and the customs
of the people are more strange to them than
those of the Indian ; and moreover, they fan-
cy that they would much prefer the larger
liberty of the Territories, to the more exact-
ing rules of society in the States. Some
came here as traders, took an Indian woman,
2J0ssibl2/ intending to cast her off when they
should get rich enough to retire. But either
they have not yet become sufficiently rich,
or else they have come to like the Indian
country and the Indian customs ; and, more
than that a swarm of black eyed boys and
girls has sprung up around them ; and they
have farms and herds, which also are yearly
increasing; and furthermore the people be-
gin to look up to them ; they are acquiring

202 SCENES IN THE

an influence, and have gained a position
whicli they would not have anywhere else;
and if they leave the country they must also
leave wife and children, lands and cattle.
Some came to the country as mechanics un-
der the auspices of the United States gov-
ernment, and they too have concluded to be-
come citizens of the nation ; so they marry,
or *' take up with a woman," and this act
effects their naturalization.

But we have arrived at the place which
we were requested to visit, and we find a
man greatly

ALARMED AT THE PROSPECT OF DEATH.

You will notice, though you do not speak
of it, that he has a large corn field, but that
he would have had more corn had he been
less indulgent towards the weeds. There is
something wrong in the management of this
establishment, you say to yourself, for the
house is old but not a shade tree, nor an orna-
mental tree or shrub is about the premises:
sad evidence of want of taste in her who pre-

INDIAN COUNTRY. 203

sides within, and lack of annbition and in-
dustry in him who manages without.

The house is what is termed a double log
cabin ; that is, two square cabins with a
space between, and one roof extending over
all ; the space between serving many pur-
poses. It is cool and airy in the summer ;
a place in which to sit during the day, or to
sleep at night.

Each cabin has one room, and that room,
in this instance, is very small; and the fowls
and little pigs dispute the right of the fam-
ily to these quarters. Doves (quite too much
domesticated) are flying, and hopping, and
walking about everywhere within the house,
and resting on the sticks overhead.

The man lies on a straw bed (the linen
not so white as the snow flakes) on the floor
in the corner. He is indeed very sick ; but
he seems to be suffering in mind as much as
in body. He turns from side to side and
groans. Oh ! 0-o-o-h ! He trembles, and
groans. Conscience is busy with him. We
endeavour to ascertain the precise state of

204 SCENES IN THE

his mind, the specific cause of his alarm ;
but he will not let us into his bosom ; he
merely says, in general, that he has been a
very great sinner ; and only wishes, as you
perceive, some general applications. He
shrinks from close questioning; there is evi-
dently something in his heart which he in-
tends you shall not see ; he merely wishes
you to read the Scriptures and pray. You
comply with his request, and with that he
is satisfied for this time ; but he is afraid he
may die, therefore he asks you to come again
to-morrow. And to-morrow you come as
he requested, but the patient is easier — eas-
ier every way ; he doesn't groan as he did
yesterday ; and is still more averse to an ex-
amination of his case, and answers questions
very reluctantly. Your conversation seems
less grateful to him than it did yesterday.
He begins to think that he will not die this
time, therefore he will not need your services
on the following day ; nor does he offer any
thanks for your trouble and suffering in rid-
ing so far in the sun.

INDIAN COUNTRY. 205

As you are curious, you cast your eyes
around to see what comforts the sick man
has. On the floor by the side of the bed is
a rusty tin cup half full of water. There are
bits of cold corn cake on -the shelf, and
" strong" pork fried in its own fat. The
sick man has no desire for these ; but there
is a pot of sofky^ and though the odor of it
is any thing but pleasant to you, the sick
man sips it, for it is sour and grateful to his
fever-coated tongue.

You sum up your observations, and con-
clude, that though those who are used to
such a mode of living, and to such kind of
nursing may like it well enough, yet for
yourself you will not become a citizen of
the country on these terms.

SOFKY.

We stated that the patient relished his
sofky. It is a national dish with these In-
dians, as much as hommony and succotash
have been with other tribes. It is made of

corn which has been bruised in a large wood-
is

206 SCENES IN THE

en mortar with a wooden pestle, its hull
loosened and blown away in a fan. It is
boiled in weak lye, then set aside till it be-
comes fermented and sour, and then is eaten
with a spoon.

That person is no favourite with the In-
dians that doesn't relish sofky. Perhaps
they fancy he is proud if he can't eat such
things as they do. They don't hesitate to
predict respecting the person that can't eat
sofky, that he will not remain long in the
country.

Their large hommony — hulled corn boiled
soft — you would probably like at once.

Other houses we could take you to, where
you would find things quite different from
what they were in the house last visited. The
husband is a white man, the wife an Indian.
They all use the English language. Here
you find many comforts and conveniences
in and about the house, and all is clean ; the
children comfortably dressed and clean, with
well combed hair ; yet with rings and orna-

INDIAN COUNTRY. 207

ments more profuse than seem to be re-
quired.

And we might take you on to another house
where a native lady presides, where there is
an approach to elegance.

There are cases in which white women
have become the wives of Indian men ; but
such cases are not common.

We will speak of one such

WHITE WIFE.

Her husband is a prophet, we believe.
She, if we remember, is of the Hibernian
race. We will be able to tell you how she
appears when at home, and when she takes
her walks abroad, as we have seen her in
both conditions. When seen abroad it was
her fashion not to wear any head-dress, ex-
cept that which nature gave ; and even that
a good deal crisped by the sun, and faded
from its bright original red. For dress she
wore a faded and tattered gown. One child
at the breast, and one or two crying at her
heels ; and as poorly clad as their mother.

208 SCENES IN THE

We never saw her at home but once. It
was on a Sabbath morning, and along to-
wards the middle of the forenoon. I was
riding to my appointment. It had been a
warm night, and none of the human inhab-
itants of that house had yet risen from their
slumbers. Their beds were outside and be-
fore the cabin, on the ground in the dry
dust, which the hogs, that had been up a
long time, were rooting about and blowing
over them. For bedding the lord had the
remnants of an old buffalo robe, the lady had
a ragged blanket.

It might seem a pity to disturb the happy
pair ; but I had missed my way, and they
were able to put me right.

Sleeping out of doors is not an uncommon
practice in the summer, but it is usually in
a more genteel manner than as above de-
scribed; not with the pigs in the dirt, but
on a staging elevated above the ground to
keep the sleeper above the reach of snakes
and other vermin. It is not uncommon to
see about an Indian dwelling several such

INDIAN COUNTRY. 209

Stagings under the trees; they are two or
three feet from the ground, and long and
broad enough for a man to stretch himself
on comfortably. Here they nap at noon,
and sleep at night ; while the tree defends
them from the sun by day, and from the dew-
by night.

DRUNKARDS OF EPHRAIM.

In preceding pages we have alluded to
the mischief which whiskey caused in the
nation. The Indians generally, we believe,
are rather proverbial for their love of strong
drink. A writer long ago laboured hard in
trying to prove that the aboriginal tribes of
North America were descendants of the lost
Ten Tribes of Israel ; and one of the argu-
ments which he used was that the Indian
seems to have an innate love for intoxicat-
ing drink. This, he argues, is a reason for
supposing that they may be descendants of
Ephraim — the drunkards of Ephraim.

18*

210 SCENES IN THE

PEOHIBITORY LAWS.

The Creeks have at different times exerted
themselves laudably to save their Datiou
from the ravages of this scourge, which is
amongst the worst enemies of the red man,
and which is one of the evils introduced by
the white man.

The council enacted laws forbidding all
trade in intoxicating drinks, and providing
for the unconditional destruction of all that
should at any time be found anywhere with-
in the boundaries of their Territory.

That which aroused the chiefs to action
in this matter was the murder of a daughter
of the principal chief by a drunken Indian ;
who, without any provocation, as he was rid-
ing past the chief's house in broad daylight,
drew up his rifle and deliberately shot the
young woman as she was standing in the
door.

By order of the council a company of po-
lice was formed, called the Light Horse ; whose
duty it was to ride throughout the country.

INDIAN COUNTRY. 211

hunting up and spilling all the liquor that
could be found; and to collect fines from
those who were in any way engaged in
the business of buying, or selling, or carry-
ing it.

For a time the law was rigidly enforced ;
but by degrees the chiefs became less watch-
ful, the police became less active, and then
the contraband dealers grew more bold^ and
drunkenness again became common.

SMUGGLERS.

There were wicked white men who would
smuggle whiskey into the country, or would
aid the Indians in doing it. It was brought
in with other lading of steamboats, landed
in the night, and carried away and hid in the
bushes. The boats trading up and down
the rivers, and ascending far up those rivers,
often dealt out the fire water. Also on the
borders of the Indian Territory, in the States
of Arkansas and Missouri, there were men
always lurking, who had fire water for the
Indian ; for which they took in exchange

212 SCENES IN THE

his money, or whatever article of value he
would part with. When a barrel or smaller
quantity of this contraband article had been
purchased, it was hurried into the woods
and cunningly secreted ; and the fact was
immmediately communicated to those who
were known to love the article, and who
would not divulge the secret.

Others would travel over the country to
the borders of the States, and having pur-
chased a couple of kegs, or large jugs, filled
with this their darling beverage, they slung
them over the back of the pony, and then
they journeyed homewards. We once encoun-
tered on the prairie a small caravan of such
traders. They had been met by a company
of their drinking friends, and a pair of
quarter barrels had been taken down and
broached ; and they seemed to be having
what they would call " a good time " over
them.

"When a jug of whiskey has been brought
clandestinely into a neighbourhood, certain
of the whiskey-loving people soon gather

INDIAN COUNTRY. 213

around it, and stay by it till the jug is
empty ; and on such occasions they are apt
to have a pretty crazy time.

MORNING AFTER A DEBAUCH.

Wishing as far as possible to become ac-
quainted with the people, and to visit every
house, at least every house that was within a
half day's ride of the Mission ; one morning,
as soon as we could be spared, we started
out, but without an interpreter. Striking
off into an unfrequented road which led
along through the skirts of the forest, where
the prairie and timber land meet and mingle,
we came upon a cornfield, but there was no
habitation in sight. Following the fence
around, we found a place where was the
"gap," and a path leading towards the
middle of the field. Through this gap, and
up the road we travelled, conjecturing how
many wolfish dogs the man might keep,
and how they would be likely to receive a
stranger.

In the centre of the field we found the

214 SCENES IN THE

cabin with a melon patch and vegetable
garden near it. Several dogs sprang up
and rushed forward to challenge us. A
number of hungry looking ponies were tied
to stakes and trees about the premises. We
knocked at the door, but had to repeat the
ceremony several times before we were in-
vited in. Upon entering we found eight or
ten Indians ; some stretched at full length
upon the floor, and paying very little atten-
tion to the intruder : some were sitting on
the floor. Some looked ashamed, some in-
different, and some appeared as though
they were angry at being disturbed. Two
earthen jugs without corks were rolling
about the floor. There was one woman in
the cabin, a poor forlorn creature, skulking
from corner to corner, having that quick
sneaking motion of the eye, and that dodg-
ing habit of the head, which are acquired by
those who are accustomed to be unexpect-
edly assailed by sharp words, and by cuffs
and cudgelling.

INDIAN COUNTRY. 215

THE WAY OF TRANSGRESSORS HARD.

Dealers in whiskey by and by became more
bare-faced, outraging the feelings of all de-
cent people : one such case we will mention.
An old worn out and condemned steamboat
had been purchased by some of that class
of persons who, by their abominable deeds,
make us ashamed of our white skin, and
cause us to blush for our human nature.
At some point below they had loaded with
whiskey, nothing but whiskey ; and steamed
on away up towards the head of navigation.
How much mischief they had done before
they reached us we do not know ; but with
many barrels still on board, they came up
the silent Verdigris, determined to remain
till their cargo should be disposed off. They
tied up their boat, and put out their fires —
the fires of the furnaces they put out, but
other fires they kindled, such as are set on
fire of hell. They sold by the barrel, and
by the jug and the bottle full ; and they sold
by the single drink. The poor Indians

216 SCENES IN THE

might be seen lying about on the banks of
the river, and on the decks of the vessel
dead drunk.

But, by some means, an account of all this
found its way to Yan Buren, where the
Superintendent of Indian affairs resides ;
and a party of men was dispatched to see to
the business. The boat was seized, the
whiskey barrels broken and their contents
poured into the river, and all the men
marched on foot from the mouth of the
Yerdigris to Yan Buren ; in which journey
they had an opportunity of learning that
transgressors do sometimes have a hard road
to travel.

Recently the Creek council has reaffirmed
the prohibitory laws. In recent letters from
a former pupil of the Kowetah school, now
the head of a family and engaged in farming
and in merchandising in a small way, we
have these statements, which we give in his
own words.

INDIAN COUNTRY. 217

EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS.

" I suppose you would be very glad to
hear our law prohibiting the introduction
of ardent spirits into the nation is still en-
forced, and it is executed by the Light Horse
company appointed by the nation, whose
duty it is to search, find, and spill all the
spirituous liquors that may be found in
their respective limits, and to collect a fine
at the hands of the venders at the rate of
four dollars per gallon for all liquors so
spilled."

" All fines so collected are used for the
benefit of the Light Horse company." "I
am rejoiced to say that our people are trying
to do some good." " Christianity is still
making progress. The word of God is
spreading wider every year. We beg your
prayers for assistance." "The people are
generally very sober for the last three years,
with a few exceptions." " There has been a
great deal of sickness this fall, though not
many deaths."

19

218 SCENES IN THE

These extracts are given, partly that you
may see what kind of scholars are made at
those Mission schools, and what kind of
citizens they are training for the nation.
We wish we could spread one of the letters
before you, that you might observe in what
a clerkly manner it is written.

BIG MEETINGS.

Indians seem to be fond of great gather-
ings. It used to appear that they felt
more comfortable while sitting on a hewed
log, or even on the bare ground under the
trees, or under the booths made of green
boughs which were supported on forked
sticks, than on benches or chairs within
walls which had doors and windows ; and
some seemed to enjoy a meal more if they
could take it while seated on the grass, and
could drink water which was dipped with a
gourd from a spring, instead of that which
was drawn with a bucket from a cold well.
They were fond of camp meetings ; and if
there was to be a barbacue and free dinners,

INDIAN COUNTRY. 219

a great crowd might be expected. Mission-
aries of other denominations in the country
had a great many such meetings. Some of
the Indians attending them spread for their
families a canvas tent, others cut down
branches of trees and constructed a booth,
and others spread their blankets on the
earth with only the sky for a covering.

Doubtless many were brought within the
sound of the gospel by these meetings, who
would not come to more quiet places ; but
" camping out" in all weather could not be
favourable to the health of the missionaries,
and in such crowds there were liable to
be lewd fellows of the baser sort, who felt
no responsibility to behave gravely ; and
the grounds around the camp sometimes,
we were told, witnessed conduct not be-
coming the precincts of a place of wor-
ship.

UNLETTERED PREACHERS.

During the time in which missionary la-
bours were suppressed throughout the nation,

220 SCENES IN THE

there were still a few Indians, and a few
black men who attempted to preach ; and
from traditions respecting them it is to be
feared that they did not perfectly elucidate
every subject which they undertook to han-
dle. For example, in a cabin where our pi-
oneer missionary once stopped to beg the
privilege of spreading his blanket on the
floor for the night, when it became known
that he was a preacher the old woman seem-
ed rejoiced ; for she said she had a very im-
portant question which she had been wait-
ing a long time to have solved, but nobody
in the country had learning enough to do it.
And she proceeded: " My man here says that
it was a plum which the woman took and
gave to the man ; but I tell him that it was
a grape which the man took and gave to the
woman. Now, sir, who is right?" The mis-
sionary said, "It was the woman that first
took of i\iQ forhidden fruit and gave it to the
man. We do not positively know what sort
of fruit it was, but it was not more likely to
have been a plum or a grape than an apple."

INDIAN COUNTRY. 221

"There it is," she says; "our own country
preachers, without learning, do misguide
us so. But when you that have learning
come, and bring that big book itself along
with you, then we may know that what we
hear is true, and we may believe and not
doubt."

Some missionaries of other denominations
still employ that same class of uneducated
preachers, who are capable of being very
useful, if set to work in their proper sphere,
but when put to expounding the law they
are altogether out of their place. One of
this class was trying to preach one night at
a camp ground not far from the Mission,
and a white man, long resident in the coun-
try, was there. He understood both English
and Indian, and also remembered enough of
Scripture to see when the preacher was go-
ing astray. He gave a brief account of the
sermon, a part of which we still recollect.
The preacher undertook to give the sub-
stance of the first portion of the first chapter
of John's gospel, and then went on to state

19*

222 SCENES IN THE

that John, the writer of that gospel, was
John the Baptist; yes, John the Baptist, the
very founder of their /Jhurch, and the same
that used to go up and down the Jordan
hunting the deep places to baptize people in.

Our reporter remarked, that undoubtedly
native preachers would be a good thing; but
then he thought it would be "mighty con-
venient like" for them to have a little learn-
ing ; at least enough so that they might be
able to read a few chapters in the Testament
for themselves. He thought that the nation
could afford to have fewer preachers, if those
few were well furnished for their work.

More haste makes less speed sometimes.
Unqualified teachers, and preachers who
have run before they were sent, do a great
deal of " bad work," which costs their suc-
cessors much trouble and patience to undo.

The communion seasons of the Mission
churches were always deeply interesting and
solemn. Members of the church, whose
homes were far off in different parts of the
country, would gather into these services,

INDIAN COUNTRY. 223

often bringing friends with them, who were
entertained at the Mission, or at the houses
of their Christian brethren in the vicinity
while the meetings continued.

EXAMINATION DAY.

The stated examinations of the schools
were a sort of gala day for the pupils, when
their parents and friends assembled at the
Mission to see what prodigies their own
children had become, (able to read the books
equal to white people !) to hear their recita-
tions, and witness their performances on the
black board.

It was a pleasure on those occasions to
have the parents seated with their children
at table; old and young enjoying themselves
together.

Our faithful coloured man was in his ele-
ment at such times ; for he would be sorry
to let the event pass off without a barbacue;
and he " calculated" that few could excel
him in that particular branch of cooking.
On the previous day he dug a pit two or

224 SCENES IN THE

three feet deep, in which he started a fire
and kept it up all night, rolling in more
and heavier logs, until by morning the pit
was apparently half full of live coals.

Over this a staging of poles was built,
and on it the ox was laid, having first been
cut into convenient pieces ; and these had
frequently to be turned, till at the appointed
time it was ready to be served up, with
some other things which the country af-
forded.

Next comes the parting, and the dispers-
ing to their own homes. Indians, however,
are not much given to complimenting, nor
do they usually make so much ado at meet-
ing and parting as some other people; and
so some of the children may be on the road,
before we are aware that they have left the
house. It is surprising to see how heavy a
load a horse can travel under. A -man or
woman mounts a pony, and then the boys
and girls get on before and behind as long
as there is a place for them to sit. In some
families there is a horse and trappings for

INDIAN COUNTRY. 225

each member of the household. One such
family we particularly remember. They
lived far up the country, were people of
some means, and able to appear in pretty
good style, for that part of the world, when
they went abroad. The father, a portly man,
rode a large horse; the mother, carrying an
infant, followed on another large horse.
Then came the children, quite a company,
following in order accordingto their age and
size, each having a horse or pony which
seemed to have been selected with reference
to size so as to suit that of its intended rider;
so that the last of this little cavalcade was a
very little boy, mounted on the smallest and
prettiest pony that we ever saw in the In-
dian country.

THE COLD PLAGUE.

Allusion has been made to the sudden
deaths which occurred amongst the Indians,
and also amongst any whites who, in the
same climate, were not careful to provide
against the changes of the weather. It was

226 SCENES IN THE

a common expression, "Heaps of people die
here every winter." The pleurisy, pneu-
monia, and fevers of different types took off"
their victims suddenly. As sometimes oc-
curred, you might meet a person one day in
health, and three or four days afterwards in
passing the house where he had lived, you
might find his neighbours assembled to bury
him.

There was a fine lad in the Tallahassa
school, a modest and obedient boy he was,
always diligent in his task, whether it was
study or work ; and when it was the time
for play he was ready for it. Monday had
been a warm sunny day, but towards night
the wind blew down quite cold and search-
ing from the north. This boy we observed
a while before dark, at his appointed labour
at the wood pile, making the chips fly fast.
While resting now and then, as he leaned on
his axe-helve the cold wind struck him, and
there perhaps he took the cold which proved
fatal. The next morning at the breakfast
table we observed that he sat there without

INDIAN COUNTRY. 227

eating, and appeared to be "chilling a lit-
tle," as we say of those who have slight at-
tacks of chill and fever; that, however, was
not an uncommon occurrence, and did not
create alarm. During the day he kept his
bed, though he complained but little, and
but a few simple medicines were adminis-
tered. In the night, however, his case ex-
cited more interest, and early in the morning
the physician was called ; but as soon as he
saw him he shook his head, and said it was
too late, he feared. Every effort was made,
and every expedient iried to arrest the dis-
ease, but in vain. He lived only to the
middle of that afternoon.

From the moment that his case became
alarming, the Superintendent hardly left his
bedside, and at every favourable moment he
was giving useful instruction, but with what
results will not be known in this world.
Before his sickness he had always been
serious and attentive in the place of religious
worship, and he had received much instruc-
tion and private admonition from the pastor,

228 SCENES IN THE

and from all the teachers; but concerning
him we have no knowledge that he was pre-
pared to die.

God waits upon us a long time, and gives
abundant opportunity to prepare for death :
and lest we might be tempted to procrasti-
nate, he has told us that the Son of man may
come as a thief in the night; therefore he
has charged us to watch, saying, " Watch
therefore ; for ye know not what hour your
Lord may come."

The Indians suffered from such attacks as
this, partly because of their want of care-
fulness to dress according to the changes of
the weather, and by their exposure at night.
They would leave home with only their
ordinary clothing, and that very slight ; a
cotton shirt, and a thin hunting jacket ;
with perhaps a blanket, or perhaps not.
Some procured for the winter a " blanket
coat."

When away on the road they might sleep
in a house, or out of doors ; with, or with-
out a fire. When riding in the morning we

INDIAN COUNTRY. 229

sometimes passed the yet smoking brands
of camp fires by the wayside.

ECONOMICAL LODGINGS.

One frosty morning — Thermometer at
15° (it often went lower. Feb. 6th it was
2°) we saw at a distance of half a mile or
more, a smoke curling upwards into the
skies, and we walked out to see who was
there. We found one lone Indian in the act
of " getting up ;" and he was rising like a
man refreshed, as bright and cheerful as if he
had slept on the softest bed.

When he encamped he kindled a fire, and
slept at right angles to it, with his feet
pretty close to the coals. He chose the
leeward side, so that the wind carrying the
smoke over him, it would serve as a canopy,
and the chilly niglit vapours would thus be
prevented from falling on him.

As is the custom, he had wrapped him-
self entirely in his blanket, not excepting
the head ; for by keeping the warm breath
inside the blanket, it thus helps to keep the

20

SB'O SCENES IN THE

body warm, they say. The stranger was
clad ia buckskia leggins which terminated
in a moccason, a hunting shirt, aud one
blanket. A tin cup sat near him, out of
which he drank quite frequently. A rough
coated horse was tied to a fallen tree top,
and was contentedly nibbling at the limbs,
as though he had been accustomed to such
breakfasts.

Through the language of signs we ascer-
tained that he had come from the south-east-
ern extremity of the Territory, and was go-
ing on to the old chief's residence.

CHANGE OF WEATHER.

We have alluded to the sudden changes
of weather ; every country is subject to the
same, yet not all to the same extent.

Once in the fall of the year we had to re-
turn to our station from the Tallahassa Mis-
sion. The forenoon had been unseasonably
warm ; what breeze there was came from the
south. After dinner, when we started, it
was sultry, and we feared to move the

INDIAN COUNTRY. 231

horses out of a walk. Both our coat and
overcoat lay across the saddle. After tra-
velling a quarter of the distance, it became
comfortably cool and our horses felt brisker
By and by we were inclined to button the
vest ; there was no wind, but away in the
north-west it was growing darkish. Now
we needed a coat ; the horses struck into a
trot: clouds began to form away to the north^
and to roll slowly towards the south. Our
coats were now buttoned, and our horses
moving faster; the clouds were growing
larger, and approaching nearer; the storm
was close upon us. Now overcoat and mit-
tens were needed ; but soon it became so
cold that we had to put our horses into a
gallop to get exercise enough to keep from
suffering. A lady in the company, who had
not so good a supply of shawls as we had of
coats, suffered more than we.

In the winter in that country, however
pleasant the morning might be, careful men
would not venture far from home without
an overcoat or blanket across their saddle.

232 SCENES IN THE

RECKLESS RIDING.

The Indians are bold riders, but they
sometimes meet with accidents. Of this
there was a distressing instance once at Tal-
lahassa. At that time there were several
horses at the stable that needed to be water-
ed, and a few of the larger boys leaped upon
their backs. Some had bridles, and some
only halters. Returning from the watering
place, the horses began racing ; as is liable
to be the case where several are together,
and boys are their riders. Those without
bits in their mouths could not be readily
managed, and one of the young men, by the
unexpected wheeling of his horse, had his
head violently dashed against a tree which
caused his death in a short time. So melan-
choly a termination of what was usually a
safe and pleasant exercise, cast a deep gloom
over the school, and was the occasion of
turning the thoughts of the pupils to the sub-
ject of death, and the necessity of being al-
ways in preparation for it.

One of the young men, by the unexpected wheeling of his horse,
had his head violently dashed against a tree. — F^e 232,

INDIAN COUNTRY. 233

At Kowetah once, when we were at sup-
per— it was after dark — a black man hurried
in, and in great haste inquired if either of
us could do anything for broken bones, for
" Peter," said he, " has broke his thigh ^^lump
offy " How was that ?" we asked. " Why,''
he answered, " we had finished thrashing up
thar, and were for starting home, and Pete
jumped on that wild colt of his'n, and he run
like mad, and slung him across a big oak
stump in the road up thar, and it broke his
thigh plump off, sir ; and he's in awful mis-
ery." " Where is he now ?" we inquired.
"Just out yer in the wagon," he said. We
assured him that none of us dared undertake
such a case as that, and he had better have
the doctor, who lived at the other Mission,
sent for immediately; and meantime the man
might be brought into the house, and we
would nurse him as well as we were able.
But no, they both thought they would go
right along to the mistress, and see what she
thought best about it ; and if she said, Send

for the white doctor, then they would do so.
20 »

234 SCENES IN THE

They only called, they said, to see if perhaps
we might have some medicine to stop the
misery. So they carried him four miles fur-
ther in a rough wagon and over a rougher
road. The mistress, we learned, did not fa-
vour sending for a white doctor; for being
of that class of the Indians that are preju-
diced against innovations, she believed the
Indian's system of treatment better than the
white man's. How he was treated we did
not learn ; we would have visited him, but
were informed that admittance would be de-
nied us. We presume, however, that the
limb was bandaged, and copiously bathed in
liquids over which incantations had be^ii
performed.

Many have been crippled or killed in the
races of drunken Indians over uneven
ground, as well as in the pursuit of game.

INDIAN DOCTORS.

Amongst civilized people we sometimes
hear of a great stir being made about some
person that pretends to be an Indian doctor,

INDIAN COUNTRY. 235

or that pretends to have Indian medicines.
But the Indians themselves know very little
indeed about mediciues, or the nature of dis-
eases. They have a few simple remedies, but
are altogether incompetent to treat a difficult
case. Where a cure has been effected, na-
ture is generally the healer, and conjuration
receives the credit of it.

They know of a root which is good for a
snake bite, and they have the pleurisy root,
and others which are good for other diseases.
But their principal dependence is upon the
Blowers. Roots and herbs are gathered
and boiled down to make a " black drink ;"
but it has no efficacy till the doctor has
given it a healing power by his own breath
blown into it through a long tube, together
with certain mummeries performed over it.

In one of our visiting excursions we came
upon a cabin in the woods, at ashort distance
from which we encountered a curious struc-
ture: it might be taken to be a receptacle
for a dead body ; but we were told that it
was a medicine house, to store medicines

236 SCENES IN THE

for gun-shot wounds, and that the owner of
the cabin was a gun-shot doctor. It was a
little log house about three feet by five,
with a round roof made of bark : a post
under each corner supported it so that the
floor was three or four feet above the -
ground.

The doctor was a tall gray haired man.
We inquired of him respecting his profes-
sion. He said there was very little for him
to do now a-days — very little call for his
medicine ; but back in the old country, and
in war time he had plenty to do. ^' Then
you have been in the wars, have you ?" we
asked. " Yes, much wars," he said. " How
old are you ?" we inquired. " Can't tell
that," said he, " only I know that I was in
the Old Ked Stick War, and just then began
to be old enough to carry a gun.

The Old Red Stick War, as we understood
it, was the war of 1812, in which a part of
the Creeks fought against our country, and
part of them for it, being led by Gen. Jack-
son. That war is so designated because the

INDIAN COUNTRY. 237

warriors were assembled by means of the
bundle of red sticks which the runners
left in each house: one of those sticks was
to be thrown away each day, and that day
in which they had but one stick left, every
man was to go to the appointed rendez-
vous.

Indians believe in Possessions, that people
may be possessed with the devil. There is
amongst them what they term the Spirit
sickness ^Y(h.QXi a person is possessed with some
spirit; and of course, incantation is needed
to cast out the spirit ; and until that is done,
they believe the person cannot be restored.

They talk of the horse sickness, the cow sick-
ness, (fee, in which the patient, as they suppose,
is influenced in some way by these animals.
The doctors are expected to tell them what
the sickness is, and to prescribe the remedies.
Sometimes certain portions of the animals
may be eaten, or certain portions must be
abstained from. For example, a person
with the headache must not eat hog's
head.

238 SCENES IN THE

They believe in witchcraft. One person
may bewitch another: also animals may be-
come bewitched, and then they will be
troublesome to manage. There was much
talk about a certain witch bear, against
which heavy charges were brought. He
was said to come amongst the cattle and
swine at night, and those which he chose
to bring under his influence would rave
about at a furious rate, and might never be
docile afterwards.

Sometimes an application is made to one
of the prophets in behalf of persons that
are sick, to learn what doctor to employ, or
what medicines to use.

They never apply to their doctors or
prophets without taking a present in their
hands ; and those presents are liberal, and
useful.

PROPHETS.

The Indians have their prophets, and
schools of the prophets; for it is a profes-
sion which has to be studied. The old

INDIAN COUNTRY. 239

prophets have young lads living with them
as apprentices: these are generally their
own nephews. These men have much in-
fluence: they are applied to sometimes in
cases of sickness : information in regard to
lost or stolen property is sought from them;
and they are consulted in relation to many
matters, both secular and religious. They
give out their responses with much assurance,
as though there was not the least doubt in
their own minds ; but they are not always
right.

One of these prophets, an old man, and
very corpulent, came riding by one morn-
ing : it was a dark morning with no clear
sky. We had a short journey to perform,
but it was not so urgent that we need expose
ourselves to a wetting ; and we were out
taking our observations of the weather as
the prophet was passing.

We saluted him with " Good morning,"
and asked, "AATill it rain to day?" He
stopped ; looked very wise ; turned his eyes
upwards, then downwards ; gazed away into

240 SCENES IN THE

the east, then into the west; then looked
north and then south ; then with downcast
eyes he sat a moment *' working up " his ob-
servations, and then announced the result
and thus it was, " Yes, it will rain to day."
" Well, and just about what time will it
begin to rain ?" we asked. This required
further observation, and was in fact rather a
hard question ; but he must answer in some
way, and so he said, "Just about eleven
o'clock it will begin." We didn't quite
agree with the old man, however, and were
going on to get the horse, when we met
another Indian, a young man, and said to
him, "And what do you think about the
weather — will it rain to day, or not?"

He too took a good look at the clouds,
and noticed the wind, and said, " Well, I
don't know much about it, but / guess it
will clear up in about an hour or so." The
young man's guess was nearer right than the
prophet's decision.

Prophets are the professional keepers of
the traditions, and the teachers in respect

INDIAN" COUNTRY. 241

to the ancient customs. Persons desirous
of becoming doctors, or sorcerers, as well as
those expecting to be chiefs, gather up as
much as possible of their traditional his-
tory and unwritten tales and romances. The
orators, we are told, weave into their speeches
a great variety of traditional and legendary
matter.

THE BUSK.

This is an annual feast, to which allusion
has already been made. We do not claim to
understandallaboutit, norif wedid would we
have time to relate it, and you, we fear, might
not have patience to hear it all. This yearly
festival was observed by nearly all the clans
at their respective "squares," or head quar-
ters. Like as it was amongst the Jews,
every person living in the Territory must
have his name enrolled somewhere; and this
register was according to the house and line-
age to which they belonged ; and at certain
seasons they went "every one into his own
city."

21

245 SCENES IN THE

We were told that anciently these, now
small clans, were separate and powerful
tribes ; but the various casualties of war,
famine, disease, and frequent removals had
wasted them, till at length they had become
confederate under common chiefs, and form-
ed but one nation ; though each clan had still
its subordinate chief, and certain internal
regulations peculiarly its own.

The Busk has in it a variety of usages, in
which those who are curious on this subject
may find something that will correspond to
what was found in one or the other of the
Jewish feasts. In cutting down branches of
trees, and making them into booths, and
dwelling in them during the festival, it cor-
responds to the feast of Tabernacles. In its
being the occasion on which an offering of
the ears of green corn is made to the Great
Spirit, and this too before any of the people
may eat of it at home, it may have something
parallel to the Pentecost. It continued the
same number of days as the Passover. They
say it is kept in commemoration of the giv-

INDIAN COUNTRY. 243

ing of the law to them by the Great Spirit ;
and Iq this also it reminds us of the Pente-
cost.

On this occasion they renew their fire by
rubbing pieces of wood together, and from
this they light all the fires used during the
feast, and each family is expected to carry
home some of it with which to begin another
ecclesiastical year ; and this too is consider-
ed necessary in order to keep disease and
every bad influence from the house. Water
is drawn from the spring into which the con-
jurer blows a blessing through his reed, and
the people all drink of it, supposing they
are imbibing health-insuring draughts. The
Jews, we are told, at their feast of Taberna-
cles had a custom of drawing water from the
fountain of Siloah, and pouring it with great
pomp and hilarity upon the altar.

The manner in which the people were as-
sembled to this feast was by means of her-
alds dispatched by the Mekko, each with
many little bundles of sticks ; one of which
is left in each house, with the direction to

244 SCENES IN THE

throw one stick away every morning, and
that morning on which but one stick remains
they are to repair to the Busk ground.

The interval between giving the notice
and the commencement of the feast, is termed
The hroTcen days, from the circumstance of
the broken sticks which register the time
Certain of the men are detailed to make the
public grounds all clean, and to repair the
public booths. Each family was expected
to go forth and fetch branches of thick trees
and make booths for themselves. A number
of the women were selected to do the cook-
ing for the occasion, from the provisions
which were contributed for that purpose, and
which every man brought willingly, accord-
ing to the number of their household.

Not to attend this feast, and not to be pre-
sent on all the days of it, was regarded as a
misdemeanor, for which a fine was levied,
and if not paid willingly, the Light Horse
were dispatched to seize and sell property,
whatever they might find. Christians, and
enlightened Indians, whose consciences for-

INDIAN COUNTRY. 245

bade their attending these festivals because
of the folly, lascivionsness, and wickedness
which is mixed up in them, are therefore,
you see, subjected to persecutions and losses
for conscience sake.

One of the days in which they are together
is the season of a general fast. It is a day
of mourning and of drinking bitter herbs.
Sitting ou the ground, in a great melancholy
circle, at a given hour of the day huge ves-
sels of the " black drink" are passed around.
It is made of roots and herbs boiled together,
and designed to operate as an emetic. A
large feather accompanies the vessel, which
is used by those who prefer to have their
sickness soon over. White men who have be-
come citizens of the country cannot be ex-
cused from this ordeal. Chiefs and people^
old and young, sit on the ground together ;
and are all sick together ; and doubtless it
is a sickening spectacle. The day of fasting
prepares the way for the days of feasting
which follow.

The public booths are arranged around

21*

246 SCENES IN THE

the sides of a square, and facing inwards. In
the centre of the square a pole is erected ;
around the foot of the pole a nnound of earth
is thrown up ; and around this mound is the
dancing ground.

There are a great variety of dances, each
having its peculiar step or " hop," and grim-
ace, and its own music. The old Indians
contend that the Great Spirit gave them all
these ; and therefore they are bound with
religious care to observe them, and to teach
them to their children ; and these again to
their children : and this, they say, is one of
the reasons why it grieves them to see so
many of their young people forsaking the
customs of their fathers ; they fear lest the
displeasure of the Great Spirit may be vis-
ited on them on account of their irreligion.

Some of the dan.ceS, they say, were learned
from the bears ; others were communicated
to them from heaven, for it would be impos-
sible, they say, for man ever to invent any-
thing so intricate and so ingenious, with the
music and step agreeing so exactly.

INDIAN COUNTRY. 247

These scenes are schools of immorality.
It is " promiscuous dancing," and in some of
them the dancers are nearly nude ; the men
rally the women in a coarse and vulgar
manner, and the women retort in a similar
style.

At the Kowetah Busk house are a number
of large sea shells which were brought on
from Georgia in the exodus of the tribe,
when they came to find a home in the West.
They are used to divine by ; and in one of
the dances they are placed on the ground,
and the dancers move around them. They
are considered sacred, and may not be
touched by any but the appointed officers.

All their amusements are kept up, day
and night, and over a Sabbath day. The
dances are mostly by night, and by the
lurid light of torches and camp fires. The
days are passed off in sleeping, and in tell-
ing stories.

It is a time for teaching the children, and
for refreshing the minds of the older ones
with all the facts and fancies touching them-

248 SCENES TN THE

selves and tlieir ancestors ; the marvellous
deeds of their braves, and the sufferings and
wrongs endured by themselves and by their
fathers, with a special emphasis on the
wrongs. They relate the things, some of
which they saw, and a part of which they
were. If they begin with

TRADITIONS,

They can commence as far back as when
the first stock of their race emerged from a
hole in the ground far away in the west :
and that earth out of which they came was
red ; consequently the people were red, and
therefore their name Eed men. Here again
the curious may discover a remnant of the
true tradition ; that man was made of the
dust of the earth, and called Adam ; which
word is derived from a root meaning redeo.rth.
Then comes the history of their countless
removals eastward in which they were pretty
constantly fighting ; dispossessing a tribe
and appropriating their fields and dwellings,
or in building forts where to make a stand

INDIAN COUNTRY. 249

for a while against a tribe or tribes more
powerful than they. Thus for a long series
of years they continued their migrations
and freebootings, until they reached the
hunting grounds where the early white
settlers of our country found them.

With this scrap of their own unwritten
history their own mouths have sometimes
been stopped when, as was their wont, they
would begin to complain bitterly of their
"forcible" removal to the west, " What!"
we would exclaim, *' was that country yours?
Haven't we heard you tell how your brave
ancestors drove other tribes before them
and seized their possessions ? and do you
complain of being compelled to relinquish
what was obtained in that way ?"

At those public gatherings the old Indians
endeavoured to impress the younger ones
with the importance of preserving all their
ancient practices: some of which would be
rehearsed, such as the rules relating to un-
clean things ; for they regard certain creatures

250 SCENES IN THE

as unclean, sucli as the horse, the crow, the
buzzard ; these may not be eaten.

But to give a more extended account of
these matters might prove too tedious.

As before intimated, these old customs
and superstitions are becoming more un-
popular, as the Christian party gradually
grows stronger, and the heathen party weaker.
So let the missionaries continue to labour,
and to labour in hope ; and let the church
continue to give, and to pray, and to pray in
faith.

MAKRIAGE AND COURTSHIP.

Amongst the Indians that have not come
under Christian influence, the customs in
regard to the matter of taking a wife vary
from the regulations in civilized countries,
and from what the Bible requires. Some-
times matches are made by the parents of
the young people, and they are given to
each other, with the desire and the charge to
be faithful to one another. But in many
cases the man chooses a woman, and if she

INDIAN COUNTRY. 251

is willing to be his wife, he takes her home
and lives with her as long as he sees best ;
and then if he becomes tired of her, or finds
another that he prefers, he abandons her.
The law, however, requires that he leave
the homestead to the wife thus deserted.
But to evade this, wicked men sometimes so
torment and vex the woman, that she is
forced to go out without property or pro-
vision of anj kind.

There are instances, in which men have
more wives than one. When this is the
case the different wives are put into separate
houses, and those houses are sometimes
several miles apart: the husband visits thera
in rotation, spending a few days or weeks
with one, then passing on to the other.

We do not, however, assert that such a
state of things as above described is the
prevailing condition of society amongst that
tribe of Indians of whom we are speaking;
we would hope that faithfulness and con-
stancy to one wife are the rule, and that
bigamy and inconstancy are the exceptions ;

252 SCENES IN THE

and furthermore we hope that an enlightened
and Christian sentiment on this subject will
before long become so prevalent that the
Council will be moved to enact laws in re-
gard to this matter agreeable to the laws of
God. ■

SOME INCIDENTS OF A DAY's KIDE.

We take a south-west course ; the country
is broken and well wooded, with many
brooks for us to cross. The habitations are
scattered, from half a mile to three miles
apart. In a lonely place in the woods we
come upon a burying ground. The graves
are formed very much as we would make
them. Few Indians pass this way by day,
much less will they do so by night, because
of their fear of ghosts.

We travel on till we come to a large farm,
to visit which, and the people upon it, was
the principal object of this day's excursion.
We find the owner at home, and more soci-
able than we expected from what we had
been told concerning him ; but he was not

INDIAN COUNTRY. 253

friendly to the Christian religion. He spoke
English very well, and we conversed at con-
siderable length. He had about fifty negroes,
and we desired permission to preach to them ;
either to have them assembled at noon, or to
go from house to house on the plantation.
But he seemed to think that their religious
interests were abundantly provided for, since
there was a preacher amongst them, who
gave them a sermon every Sabbath day.

We heard good accounts of this coloured
preacher, as to his piety and good example,
and that some of the negroes were hopefully
pious.

On our return we called at the cabins of
two free coloured men, who had obtained
citizenship in the nation. They were doing
tolerably well as farmers. The heads of
these families, together with some of their
children, appeared to be devoted Christians,
and to be hungering and thirsting after right-
eousness. None of them were able to read,
and when wereadandexplainedtheScriptures
to them, they listened with ardent interest.

22

254 SCENES IN THE

They were ready to overwhelm us with
thanks, and begged us to visit them again ;
for it was only once in a while that they
could get even a fewcrumbs of the word of God.
Oh, how they wished that some members of
their families were able to read !

We have often wished that those people
who have the Bible but neglect to read it,
might have witnessed with what eagerness
these poor people received the few para-
graphs we were able to read to them.

Riding homewards, we come unexpectedly
upon a little cabin in the woods almost en-
tirely covered with trees. A middle aged
man was sitting on a log before the door,
and with a knife was shaping a large wood-
en spoon. This seemed to be his trade ; for
a few wooden bowls, and spoons, and other
articles of wooden ware were to be seen fin-
ished, and ready for market. The picture
was rather pleasing; the man seemed con-
tented and happy; several children are sport-
ing around him.

The interpreter tells us this is a meeting-

INDIAN COUNTRY. 255

going man, and he thinks a Christian. We
stop and have a few words of conversation
with him. In answer to our salutation he
raises his eyes from his work, with a fling
of the head tosses back the long locks which
were hanging about his face, and greets us
with a smile. Without reserve, but with
modesty, he engages in a conversation on the
subject of religion. He tells us that he is
happy ; that he loves to attend religious ser-
vices, and to meet with people that love Je-
sus, and when alone at his work he can think
over some of the good things he has heard.
He has no more any desire to engage in the
sports and games which once were so pleas-
ing to him. His knowledge is very limited,
for all that he has learned of Scripture truth,
he has picked up here and there, from the
different preachers, and in conversation with
Christian people ; but he appears to have
well improved the little instruction he has
received. He is faithful in his few things.

We leave him to finish his spoon, and we
proceed on our way with some very pleasant

256 SCENES IN THE

reflections. That then, we say, is a brother;
one of the household of faith ; and glad are
we to own him as such. His skin is not
like ours, nor his dress, nor mode of living ;
he has scarcely any cultivation when com-
pared with the brethren and sisters with
whom we have been accustomed to associate ;
but when we come to speak of Christ, of the
hopes of the righteous, of temptations, of this
wicked heart, bad thoughts, and efforts to
overcome every evil desire ; and when we
speak of doubts and fears, then of encourag-
ing hope, then of sorrows, and then of joys,
we find we are just alike. He loves Jesus,
and so do we, as we trust ; and Jesus loves
him. He is a child of God, for he evidently
has the Spirit of adoption, whereby he is
taught to call God, Father. We shall by and
by meet again, we hope. And this is some
of the fruit of missionary labour, we say.
Somebody cast bread upon the waters a long
time ago ; and now, after many days, we
have found it.

Then, brethren, labour on. As far as pos-

INDIAN COUNTRY. 257

sible, preacTi the gospel to every creature ;
for the word shall prosper in the thing where-
to God sends it. Many may come from the
cabins and wigwams of the forest, to sit down
with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the
kingdom of heaven, of whose salvation you
may not learn till that great day, when He
for whose sake you labour shall point to
them and say, " Inasmuch as ye have done
it unto one of the least of these my brethren,
ye have done it unto rae."

THE GLEANER.

An incident with an oriental cast about
it would sometimes occur, such as this. On
a hot summer's day when all was still about
the Mission, for the fowls were panting in
the shade, and even the birds were seeking
to keep themselves cool amongst the thick
branches, there came an Indian woman soft-
ly stepping along towards the house, coming
by the back way. She was very shy, and
stood by the fence outside the yard, watch-
ing till some of her own people might ap-

258 SCENES IN THE

pear in sight; and when an Indian girl came
to the door, she beckoned her to come to the
place where she was standing. The girl
went and returned with her message which
was: This woman wishes to know if she
would be perfectly welcome to go into the
wheat field and gather what was left after
the reapers. Full liberty was granted, and
a rake was furnished her ; with which she
laboured diligently a couple of hours. Then
with a stick she thrashed what she had gath-
ered, tied the grain in a cloth, and bore it home.
While she was engaged in these operations,
we occasionally looked that way and thought
of Euth the Moabitess ; and wondered whe-
ther or not this woman could be at all re-
lated to that people to whom the Lord gave
the charge, saying, " When thou cuttest down
thy harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a
sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to
fetch it; it shall be for the stranger, for the
fatherless, and for the widow ; that the Lord
thy God may bless thee in all the work of
thy hands."

INDIAN COUNTRY. 259

A FUNERAL.

Soon after we arrived in the country of
the Muskogees, the superintendent of one
of the Missions invited us to take a horse
and ride with him. He was going to visit
a sick woman a few miles distant. We
found her wasting with consumption. The
cabin was small — one room; but it was clean.
There were clean white curtains about the
bed ; the furniture was scanty, but what
there was, was tastefully arranged and free
from dirt and dust. This recommended the
inmates. Where Christianity goes, improve-
ments in many respects are sure to follow^

Another Indian woman was attending
upon the sick one ; but all was still. The
missionary conversed with the sick woman;
or we might say, he asked her some ques-
tions, which she answered very briefly ; and
then, he talked to her. By and by the hus-
band came in. He was another silent per-
son. He took a seat at a little distance, and
listened attentively to what was said. What

260 SCENES IN THE

a silent race these Indians are ! we thought.
A hymn was sung, and a pra3'er offered ; and
we departed.

A few days afterwards, and in a pouring
rain, very early in the morning the husband
came to request the missionary to attend the
funeral of his wife. He then went to gather-
ing up lumber, and himself helped in mak-
ing the coffin. At the appointed time we
were at the house of mourning, where we
found quite a company of people. An ox
wagon was waiting before the door, to serve
as the hearse. The husband was busily, but
silently, stirring about and making all the
arrangements. When the coffin was brought
out, he was one to help carry it. Then we
moved towards the grave ; not in procession,
but each one choosing his own road through
the thicket till we came to a solitary place
in the woods. The coffin was gently lower-
ed into the grave, the husband still doing
most of the work, and not a word had we
yet heard spoken. "When the dirt was re-
turned into the grave, the husband was the

INDIAN COUNTRY. 261

principal one in doing it ; and occasionally
he would get in to tramp the earth down
compactly. After it was finished, he made
a roof over the grave to keep it dry. In all
this the husband wished to testify his regard
for the dead, and his solicitude to provide
suitably for her last resting place on earth.

When the coffin was lowered into the
grave, the solemn stillness was broken by
the words, " Earth to earth, and dust to dust ;"
and then again, when the burial was com-
pleted, by a short address from the minister
and a funeral hymn.

A fitting burial for this inhabitant of the
forest ! The stillness of mourning friends,
(for scarcely did we hear the crackling of a
dry limb, so soft was their tread,) the sombre
solemn woods, the majestic oaks spreading
out their strong arms over the humble tomb:
under such circumstances these sweet words,
**I am the resurrection and the life" — "Those
that sleep in Jesus will God bring with him,"
came upon our ears almost like a voice from
the clouds. And as we were retiring from

262 SCENES IN THE

that spot, where the dust of a saint had been
laid in its lowly bed, to rest in Jesus till the
voice of the archangel sounds calling the
dead to come forth, it needed but little fancy
to enable us still to hear the echo of that
Muskogee hymn still circling about the grave,
and warbling amongst the tree-tops.

ELOQUENCE OF SILENCE.

" To everything there is a season, and a
time to every purpose under the heaven ;
and there is an unutterable beauty in such
a fitness of things ; and so we find that there
is " a time to keep silence, and a time to
speak." There are times when stillness
preaches more effectually than any audible
sounds, and when even a sigh would seem to
be out of place.

The sun, one cold December evening, had
just sunk below the horizon, amid such a
blaze of angry red clouds as betoken a
boisterous morrow, when we noticed one of
the little boys becoming especially interested
in something down the road. We also

INDIAN COUNTRY. 263

gazed in the same direction, and pretty soon
an Indian appeared, with a blue shawl
twisted like a turban about his head, a green
blanket coat, and deer-skin leggins. With-
out speaking or changing a muscle of his
face, the boy moved with measured steps to-
wards the stile; the Indian dismounted and
met him there, and they stood, one on
either side of the fence.

The boy dropped his head on the topmost
rail, and the man put one hand upon his
shoulder, and the other around upon his
back ; and thus they remained for some
minutes, not a word passing between them,
nor even a lisp.

We inquired of the other boys what all
that meant ; had the man brought the lad
some bad news? " 0 no," they said, *' that
is his father, that has come to see him ; and
the boy is so glad." " But," we said, " they
have not spoken ; and doesn't the boy seem
to be weeping?" "0 no," they answer,
" they are just glad to see each other : Indians
do that way."

264 SCENES IN THE

A VISIT TO THE CHEROKEES.

All the missionaries labouring under tbe
auspices of the American Board of Commis-
sioners for Foreign Missions in the Cherokee
Nation, were to meet at Park Hill at the
same time that the Board was holding its
annual meeting in an inland town of one of
the eastern states ; and the members of our
Missions were invited to be present with
them. It being the season of vacation in
our schools, some of us could be spared
for a few days. The distance was a good
day's ride ; but our saddles began to grow
hard when the journey was but half per-
formed ; and as the declining sun lengthened
our shadows, the miles seemed to lengthen
also. An hour's ride brought us to the
ford on the "Verdigris, at a place where the
river is wide, and the banks high and densely
wooded. As we followed each other down
the steep bank, we did not wonder at that
sudden expression of terror from the lady in
the company, who was unaccustomed to such

INDIAN COUNTRT. 265

modes of travelling; for as we looked over
into the dark waters rushing over the rapids,
thick clouds obscured the sun, and the roar
of the fall a little below burst upon our
ears. On the opposite bank were some
wild animals that had come to drink at the
river; whether deer or wolves we couldn't
determine ; and they soon disappeared.

The river forded, another ride of an hour
or more brought us to the Neosho: this
forded, we ride into Fort Gibson. This is a
pretty place. There is the fort itself with
its block houses ; the pallisades with their
heavy wooden gates ; the stables on a hill
near by, the quarters of the dragoons in a
former day and their look out ; the campus
outside the fort — a plot of ground elevated
above the river, having on two sides the
houses of the officers, the chapel and school
house, the government store ; and all newly
whitewashed. Within this enclosure was a
little burying ground carefully protected,
and tastefully adorned with trees and shrubs.
We pass out into the Cherokee country by

23

266 SCENES IN THE

a large gate ; near whicli is a store, having
one entrance from the fort, and another from
the Indian country. Around this door a
great number of horses were tied, while their
riders were within ; some with articles to
barter for goods, others endeavouring to
purchase by giving -a "lien" on the annuity
which will come next year ; which annuity
may be sold or gambled away to several
other parties, all of whom will be at the
council to claim it when at length it
arrives.

"VYe still have a very pleasant country to
travel over as we journey eastward. We
have no high hills, but a gently undulating
surface, with many brooks, and some larger
streams. "We pass but few houses, but
those that we see seem to be one or two
degrees in advance of those in the Creek
country.

At the house of the veteran missionary at
Park Hill we receive an honest and hearty
welcome. The evening passes pleasantly in
company with the newly arrived and arriv-

INDIAN COUNTRY. 267

ing missionaries coming in from their sev-
eral fields of labour, to enjoy a short season
of social and religious intercourse; and thus
to drink of the brook in the way, and then
to lift up the head, and press on with renewed
energies.

Two days are spent in alternate business,
and religious meetings ; and an additional
interest is imparted to the occasion by the
reflection that all the missionaries of the
same Board are at the same time similarly
employed, and that the officers of the Board,
and many of the friends of Missions are also
offering their prayers to the God of Missions
for a blessing on the whole work, and on all
the labourers. At one time we assemble in
the meeting-house, made of hewn logs, to
listen to a sermon. At another time to hear
statements concerning the work at the
different stations, in which the brethren
speak of their difficulties, and their encour-
agement; of whatever progress has been
made during the past year, and the ground
of hope for the future : and before we separate

268 SCENES IN THE

the efforts of the church for the conversion
of the whole world are briefly brought to
view ; also the lands where darkness yet
broods are pointed to : and we bless the
Lord for mercies past, and humbly hope for
more. Again we assemble for the sacramen-
tal service. The missionaries with members
of their families, with Cherokees who have
learned to love the Lord, and some who are
of the race of Ham, all sit down together in
remembrance of one common Lord, and as
members of one family.

At these seasons of refreshing we forget
the trials of the way, and the days of sick-
ness and peril. We forget the seasons of
darkness and discouragement, and are oc-
cupied with thoughts of our Father's house
above, and are filled with joy in thinking
of the trophies of grace ; some of whom are
with us there, and others scattered over the
Nation. The missionaries thank the Lord
and take courage ; and when by and hj
they separate, each to his allotted labour, it

INDIAN COUNTRY. 269

is with a more earnest purpose, a stronger
faith, and more animating hope.

A CHEROKEE PREACHER

was there. He could not speak a word of
our language. The few little works which
had been translated into his own lanojuaore he
carried with him; and was much occupied
in studying them. His field of labour was
far away in the north-west. He spake of
the people there as "wild Indians," who very
much needed the gospel ; and for himself he
lamented his own small acquirements and
feeble abilities, and expressed a wish that
some person could be with him on whom he
might lean, and to whom he could look for
instruction.

The chief and his family attended all the
public services. It was something strange,
that shining coach, that would do for Broad-
way or Chestnut street, with driver and foot-
man, glistening here and there as it passed
the openings in the thicket, then rolling over
the green sward up to the log meeting-house,

23 *

270 SCENES IN THE

During our stay in the country we rode out
to the residence of the chief — a neat cottage,
like some snug farmer's house in one of the east-
ern states. It was well furnished, and had
pretty yards and flower gardens, which were
indices of the refinement of those who pre-
sided in the household. The wife of the
chief, and her sister — white ladies — were
pleasant and entertaining in conversation ;
the chief was not so sociable, but none the
less attentive to his guests.

We visited the Female Academy — a large,
handsome, well finished brick building. One
almost wonders what such a noble edifice is
doing away out there. From the top of it
we saw the Seminary for young men, two
miles distant. Each had a boarding depart-
ment, with three or four teachers. The
buildings were erected, and the schools sup-
ported out of their school fund received from
the United States government. In these
were trained up teachers for their district
schools ; and much other good they did,

INDIAN COUNTRY. 271

but respecting it all we cannot undertake to
tell.

Near the residence of the Missionary lives
his Translator, who assists him in translat-
ing into the Cherokee language, books and
tracts. The "Cherokee Almanac," which
they yearly issue, is a very useful publica-
tion ; having alternate pages in English and
Cherokee, with many Scripture lessons, and
useful hints on Temperance, Agriculture,
Political and Domestic Economy. The
prairie flowers and the moon are the Al-
manac of the Indian. When such a flower
shows itself, they think it the time to plant
this seed ; when such another flower is in
bloom, some other seed must be sown, and
so on ; but even then it may not be done
unless the moon is in the right quarter also.
But again it may occur that when the moon
suits, the weather may not, for in some sea-
sons the rains fall earlier than in others ;
and sometimes when the dry weather com-
mences, it continues through the summer ;
and the farmer who, because the moon or

272 SCENES IN THE

other signs were not right, neglected to im-
prove the early season which was favourable,
may not have another opportunity to get
his seed into the ground with a prospect of
reaping a crop.

The Translator of whom we spoke has a
mixture of white blood. He was for two
years in Princeton Theological Seminary
and for some time has been a member of the
Creek Presbytery. He employs his preach-
ing talent for the benefit of his countrymen.
His house resembled some parsonage in a
quiet eastern village. The yard and flower
beds, the orchard and garden, were refresh-
ing to the eye; and you say to yourself, This
man was not spoiled by education and a resi-
dence among the whites. With other learn-
ing a fine taste was cultivated. Nor was
there in the house that painful contrast too
often witnessed between the husband and wife,
when the educated one returns and marries
an ignorant, and it may be a heathen person.
In this case the wife was a help-meet ; and
while sitting with them in their parlour, or

INDIAN COUNTRY. 273

at their well arranged and comfortably pro-
vided table, you would scarcely think you
were partaking of the hospitalities of Che-
rokees.

Going to and from the church we pass
over the spot which was once wet with the
blood of the murdered Elias Boudinot. That
occurred when their civil wars were raging;
and perhaps they can hardly yet be said to
have ceased. The Nation was divided on
that question : Shall we remove, or shall we
not remove west beyond the river? And the
old hatred and hot blood of the opposition
party is stirred up against the other, when-
ever they think of that ancient feud ; espe-
cially do they cherish enmity towards those
who were the principal agents in selling
their homes, their fields, and their hunting
grounds to the pale faces. It still leads to pri-
vate quarrels, and to the shedding of blood.
Human life by many of the Indians is estim-
ated too cheaply; and there are some so reck-
less and who have so little dread of a future
retribution, and withal seem to have acquired

27*^ SCENES IN THE

such a thirst for blood, that in some ap-
palling instances a man is shot as ruthlessly
as a wild beast would be. But as the influ-
ence of the gospel extends, this condition of
things will disappear.

BLOOD REVENGE.

As before stated, we hear too frequently
of cases of murder and manslaughter ; and
the number of these is larger because of
the disposition of many to take the law into
their own hands, and themselves avenge the
death of a relative, rather than wait the law's
delay. Indeed, blood revenge seems to be a
part of their ancient code ; and the blood of a
murdered person calls from the ground to
those of nearest kin to avenge his death ;
and those Indians who still hold to their an-
cient customs and belief, feel themselves re-
ligiously bound to pursue the murderer till
they let the earth drink his blood also ; like
as Joab smote Abner for the blood of Asahel
his brother.

We will speak of such a case. A man

INDIAN COUNTRY. 275

who had relatives not far from us had in a
quarrel slain a man, and for many months
he had been hunted from one hiding place to
another. There were no cities of refuge to
which he might flee and be safe, till a hear-
ing of the case might be had before the
judges ; therefore the avenger of blood was
ever on his trail. Late one night he rushed
into a house not far from the Mission, with
blood streaming down his face, and craved
a shelter and place of concealment. " Oh,"
says he, "this is too much to endure always;
to be constantly hunted, and never able to
feel secure. They are determined to have
my blood, though they pursue me to the
ends of the earth. I may as well face my
enemy at once."

TESTIMONY OF A DROVER.

On the boat in which we were ascending
the Arkansas river was a cattle buyer from
Virginia. Having learned our profession
and our destination, he told us his. For
some years he had been employed in gather-

276 SCENES IN THE

ing up droves to take to the eastern states ;
sometimes it was a drove of mules, with a few
Indian ponies ; at others a drove of those
fine cattle raised by these Indians, with a
few of the buffalo, it may be, to sell to gen-
tlemen at the east to ornament their parks.
We sometimes saw small herds of these,
which the hunters had taken on the plains
when they were calves ; an ugly looking
creature, and still more so when seen taking
astampede, pitching along in a rolling, tumb-
ling gait. The drover by years of experi-
ence had learned much about these partly
civilized tribes, for he had become familiar
with all classes, and had seen them under all
circumstances. Formerly, he said, he was
like a great many others, and was accustomed
to regard the accounts sent home by the
missionaries, and published through the
churches, with a good deal of suspicion; but
now he had no more of that feeling. He had
travelled in every direction over the coun-
try, had visited many of the misssionary sta-
tions under the care of different denomina-

INDIAN COUNTRY. 277

tions of Christians, had passed considerable
time at some of them, and thus had an op-
portunity of learning how they worked and
how they lived ; often too he had to lodge
in the houses of the Indians, and sometimes
to encamp with them. He was always glad,
he said, when he found himself amongst
Christian Indians, or with those who had
been educated at Mission-schools.

It seemed to him that Christian character
was more marked than it was in the states ;
that when he found a genuine Christian
Indian, he was more decidedly and actively
so than was usual with professing Christians
amongst the whites. He hoped in respect
to himself that he was a follower of Christ,
and he did certainly enjoy very much the
pious conversation of Christian Indians, to
whose houses a kind providence sometimes
directed him.

He told of a solitary ride that he once
had in the Choctaw Nation. He had beea
travelling all the day, and was weary and
hungry; but the sun was rapidly declining

24

278 SCENES IN THE

and no cabin was in sight, nor were there
cattle paths which might lead him to human
habitations. He was preparing his mind
for a night on the plains by tethering his
horse, and making his own bed in the grass
rolled up in his blanket ; when as he began
descending a slope he saw, amongst the tall
grass near a stream, an encampment of
perhaps fifty Indians. He was uncertain as
to their character, or whether he might fare
well or ill among them ; but he rode into
the midst of them, and was received with
kindness. It was not long till he ascer-
tained that they were on their way to a
sacramental meeting. There were men,
women, and children in the company.
Their riding animals were secured by long
ropes, one end of the ropes being fastened to
wooden pins driven into the ground. The
stranger was invited to eat of their dried
meat, and corn bread. They spake affec-
tionately of their ministers, and seemed to
be anticipating much enjoyment at the
meeting. Before lying down to sleep they

INDIAN COUNTRY. 279

Lad religious worship, consisting of singing
and prayers ; and the same in the morning;
for they could no more do without their
prayers than their provender.

The drover thought them as happy a little
company of people as ever he met on earth.
The night in the Indian encampment where
he was commended to the care of that God
who hath made of one blood all nations of
men — though most of the prayers were in a
language which he did not understand —
was, he said, a season that he loved to think
of: and if he should be so happy as to arrive
at heaven, after all bis journeyings were
over, he should expect to meet most of that
little party of Choctaws there.

IS IT A PAYING BUSINESS ?

Are the results of missionary operations
such and sufficient to pay all the expense of
money, labour, and sacrifice of health and
life which they cost ?

It was Saturday evening, of a sultry July
day, just at the going down of the sun, when

280 SCENES IN THE

we reached the Mission burying ground
situated ou a solitary knoll in the edge of
the woods. We had followed the corpse,
which was borne in a rough wagon, a mile
or more through the forest, some of us on
foot and some on horses.

We lowered the coffin into the grave, the
missionary addressed a few words to the
people and offered prayer. The grave was
filled up, a rough stone was placed at the
head and another at the foot, and the com-
pany dispersed. Then we said to the mis-
sionary, " This grave shall open again."
*' Yes," he answered, '^ and it shall open too
I trust, before some of another class, for we
trust that he will have part in the first re-
surrection."

I rode away from the burying-ground ; it
was nearly dark. I mused as I went, and
these were some of my thoughts :

To-morrow is the Sabbath. Yonder is
the house in which we worship. Our bro-
ther, Thomas Jones, will not be there ; he
was seldom absent when in health. He

INDIAN COUNTRY. 281

will not join with us again in this earthly
sanctuary, nor in the weekly meeting shall
we hear his earnest, fluent prayers, which
were some evidence that he was not a
stranger at the throne of grace. But we
have hope that his spirit has already been
received into that assembly which shall
never break up.

And who was this Thomas Jones ? An
Indian. He had once been a wicked Indian,
given up apparently to all the superstitions
and vices of his people, and he had been a
great favourite with the Indians of his town,
because of his skill in the ball-play and other
sports ; but for a few years past he had
given evidence that he was washed, that he
was sanctified, that he was justified in the
name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit
of our God.

These things were alluded to in the funeral
sermon, by the missionary, who knew him
before conversion, and had witnessed his
subsequent consistent walk as a professed
follower of Christ.

24*

282 SCENES IN THE

I mused on these things still. I ran over
in my mind the providences by which at
length this man was brought to a knowledge
of the truth. I thought of the officers of the
Board of Missions, in their plans and first
efforts for establishing missions amongst this
people — the selection of a man for the station
— the discouragements attending his efforts
— then the gradual increase of the missionary
force, and the aggregate labours of all these.
I thought of the money which is annually
needed to support these Missions. I thought
of the health of missionaries ruined here.
I thought of them as sick and worn with
care, and still labouring. I thought of the
graves of those missionaries, and of mission-
aries' children, in that burying-ground in
which I had just seen another body deposited.
On the one hand, I thought of all these
things ; and on the other hand, I thought of
Thomas Jones — -just buried in confident hope
that he should rise in the resurrection of the
just. One soul! And suppose this were
the only fruit of the efforts of the Presby-

INDIAN COUNTRY. 288

terian Church for the Creek Indians ; is this
enough to pay ivhat these Missions have cost?
ONE SOUL! ONE SOUL! saved, as
we trust, that but for the efforts of the
Church at this place, would have died as
heathen Indians die !

How did I wish that the whole Church
could stand for a few moments by this gi-ave,
and let it preach to them ! It would speak
to them of the power of the gospel to con-
vert the Indian. It would encourage them
in the work of sending missionaries, and
praying for them. It would also, I have
little doubt, awaken a desire in many to
offer themselves as missionaries, that, like
the pioneer in this field who had just com-
mitted to the dust, to await the resurrection,
the first fruits of his labours, so they might
go forth bearing precious seed, hoping also
to gather sheaves.

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